How to Use Flexible Goals and Why it is Your Secret Weapon for Success!

Setting goals is an important part of personal growth and development, but not all goals are created equal. In particular, the type of goal you set can have a significant impact on your ability to achieve it and the overall outcome. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of setting flexible goals and how they differ from fixed goals.

First, let’s define what we mean by flexible and fixed goals. Fixed goals are specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives that are rigid and inflexible. For example, a fixed goal might be to run a marathon in under four hours by a certain date. Flexible goals, on the other hand, are more general and adaptable to changing circumstances. For example, a flexible goal might be to improve your running endurance and overall fitness level.

So why should you set flexible goals? Here are a few reasons:

1. Adaptability: Flexible goals allow you to adapt to changing circumstances and setbacks, without feeling like you’ve failed. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon in under four hours, but you get injured or face unexpected life events that prevent you from training as planned, you may feel like you’ve failed. With a flexible goal, you can adjust your approach and still feel like you’re making progress towards your overall objective.
2. Motivation: Fixed goals can be motivating in the short-term, but they can also be discouraging if you don’t achieve them. Flexible goals, on the other hand, are more about the process than the outcome, which can be a more sustainable source of motivation over time.
3. Resilience: By focusing on the process rather than the outcome, flexible goals can help build resilience and mental toughness. When setbacks occur, you’re more likely to bounce back and keep going, rather than giving up or feeling defeated.
4. Personalization: Flexible goals allow you to personalize your approach and focus on what’s important to you. For example, if your goal is to improve your overall fitness level, you can adjust your workouts and routines to meet your individual needs and preferences, rather than following a strict training plan.

Setting flexible goals can be a more effective and sustainable approach to personal growth and development than setting fixed goals. Also, using flexible goals naturally aligns with a growth mindset. By focusing on the process and adapting to changing circumstances, you can build resilience, motivation, and a sense of personalization that will help you achieve your overall objectives. The idea of focusing on the process and micro progress will help you fuel through the plateaus. You will shift from measuring yourself against achieving the goal to overall progress. In the marathon example above, if you train and don’t break a 4 hour marathon, you could become despondent. You would miss the fact that you trained and ran 26.2 miles!