If reaching the goal won't fix the problem, change the goal

The idea

A goal is useful because you expect reaching it to change something.

But goals can take on a life of their own. We keep chasing them even when they are no longer closely connected to what we wanted in the first place.

Imagine reaching your goal tomorrow. Would the problem you wanted to solve actually be gone?

If not, it may be time to change the goal.

Try this

1. Write down the goal you're currently working towards.
2. Finish this sentence: I wanted this because I thought it would ______.
3. Imagine you've achieved it completely.
4. Ask what important problem would still be left. If the answer is “quite a lot”, rethink what you're aiming for.

Keep this

Don't keep chasing a goal that no longer gives you what you wanted from it.

Why this helps

You might be trying to clear your inbox because you want to feel in control. You might want a promotion because you hope work will feel more worthwhile. You might be trying to win an argument because you want a relationship problem to go away.

Now imagine you succeed.

Your inbox is empty. You get the promotion. You win the argument.

Did you get the thing you actually wanted?

If not, working harder towards the same goal won't help. The useful move isn't always to try harder. Sometimes it's to aim at something different.