We have dreams. We want to achieve our goals. At times we actively pursue them, and at other times, they remain as only ideas.
Most of us face a gap between our intent and our actions. We struggle to complete what we intend to achieve on a daily, a weekly, and a yearly basis. Why?
We are influenced by our optimism, and we are influenced by our internal desire for success. We set stretch goals and have big dreams. But why does it require so much focus and hard work to follow through on our intent? We know what we want to achieve.
If we examine the gap between our intent and our actions, we may discover our results to be based on several other potential gaps. Here are four to consider:
1. The gap between how we see ourselves, and how we really are. This is an extension of the gap between intent and actions. We judge ourselves based on our intent, not on our actions. So this gap can perpetuate the original gap.
2. The gap between what we think we know, and what we really know. We assume we know enough to achieve our dream, but each step requires learning. We sometimes underestimate the time to learn and take action. We sometimes forget to factor in the required failures that give us the knowledge and experience required.
3. The gap between how much time we think we will spend, and the time we really spend. Only a small number of people, who are actively working on their goals, finish their daily action plan. We push ourselves to achieve more, and yet we underestimate the interruptions, and the other activities that demand our attention.
4. The gap between the amount of effort we believe it will take, and the level of effort it really takes. We have to be persistent in our efforts to succeed. When things get tough, we need to keep going. To understand this gap just think about all the people that start their exercise and diet plans in January and then give up before the end of the month. These people underestimate the effort required to achieve their goal.
How do we close the gap between our intentions and our actions? I am not convinced it can ever be closed. We are always striving for more. But we can increase our success by knowing ourselves, increasing our awareness, and investing in our personal growth.
How are you closing the gap you have between your intentions and your actions?