Brief Musings: Setting Goals
A picture I took at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver.
Hello again, folks! I hope you're all enjoying your week as much as I am!
I'm on vacation at the moment in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia! Thus, it may be another week or two before I'm able to release another State of Mind article, but I still thought I'd share some general thoughts with you today regardless.
In my journeys as a depressed lad, I've discovered that one of the most helpful things I've done to combat my depression has been planning and setting goals.
Before I go any further, I also want to say that I used to be the type of person who would roll my eyes when anyone told me to set goals to get myself out of depression. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get right on that. Let me write down a list of a bunch of unrealistic, lofty objectives so I can hang them over my own head and feel crushed by the weight of achieving them," is something I might have said a year or two ago.
But goals don't have to be like that. For example, this vacation I'm on in right now was a goal I set for myself. I first visited Vancouver almost exactly a year ago, and I absolutely loved it. I told myself I wanted to come back, but was more than a little concerned I wouldn't find the time or the means to make my way back here (especially within a year). Despite my hesitation, I made it work for me and I couldn't be happier about it.
But, in more general terms, what does an achievable goal look like? Well, not only a planned vacation applies here, but there are some examples to consider: finding a book you want to read and finishing it, seeking an activity that forces you out of your normal routine, reconnecting with a friend you haven't spoken to in a while, indulging in a hobby that you've neglected, exploring part of the town or city you live in but have never seen, immersing yourself in nature, or expressing yourself through whatever artistic medium you feel most comfortable. There are obviously a lot more out there, too.
In reality, setting goals in this way is more about where your focus lies, and less about putting pressure on yourself to get something done or to simply "do better".
I've found that some of my darkest times were when I was just staring blankly at a TV or computer screen, trying to pass the time in the most mindless ways possible. Sure, I'm a geek and I love my media, but that level of detachment from my own depression never helped me grow as an individual. Working towards something that got me out of those more isolating situations really helped and, for me, that's translated to some of those examples I mentioned previously.
Even if you're trying to attain a goal that's more long term, reaching that end in increments and recognizing those smaller wins on the way to your destination can be instrumental in that success. I've definitely listed out the steps to reach a larger intention and used that to chart my progress along the way, which helped me feel like what I wanted was not so futile after all.
Whatever you're aiming for this week, I hope you succeed.
Much Love,
Bryce