“All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.”
-Yann Martel, The Life of Pi

When Goal Setting it is vital to design an idea that is congruent with your truest desires. An idea that resounds with your authentic self and ignites that fire within you to drive you forward at a greater velocity, combatting any negative persuasions to procrastinate or negotiate the achievement of the goal. Everyone seeks this Clarity of Purpose and sense of Drive, obtaining which is discussed previously in "The 7 Stages of Consciousness" and "Your Authentic Self". If you seek methods of igniting the fire within, igniting it with rocket fuel, take some time to look over those articles. Here we will be addressing the ways and means to navigate the rocket once launched towards your objective.

Staying firm and committed to a goal certainly takes a great deal of commitment, which requires you to be stubborn to a degree. You cannot negotiate the actual destination or objective, you must stay as true to your course as possible. However, if you stay too stubborn, maintaining the rocket analogy, what would happen if there was an asteroid field, a moon, a planet or a star on your trajectory? How do you stay completely committed to arriving at the objective if you are beginning to negotiate around obstacles?

Stay committed. Stay stubborn. About the goal, the objective, but not so stubborn that you cannot adapt and change your course. Paradigms are meant to be shifted, they are a reference point from which you must venture forth, not something that should be clung to steadfastly out of fear and a desperate hope to maintain comfort and avoid pain. Consider paradigms as a perfectly pliable constant in your life, only insurmountably solid so long as you believe them to be. Paradigms are the stepping stones or landmarks around which you must navigate in order to obtain a new momentum towards the objective, navigation which requires changing your perspective. Paradigms need not be permanent. You make them so. You may also decide they are temporary. They only are the obstacle you currently face; the planet your rocket is heading towards which, after changing trajectory a few times and navigating around, you redirect towards your objective. Your destination need not change, but while facing conflict or obstacles you must change your perspectives. Paradigms are your Goliath. You are David. Your sling is your Mind and the rock your perspective and ability to adapt.

Returning to the sci-fi rocket metaphor; never have I read a good book or watched a good movie where a ship is commandeered by one person alone. There is always a team cooperating on the operation of the ship. One in the engine room, another navigating, one operating the weapons, another in the galley or medical bay. There are multiple perspectives available to the Captain to adapt his perspective of the current crisis. Of course, the Captain must adopt those trusted perspectives. Of course, in this metaphor, the Captain of which we speak is your Mind. The Ship is your life, full of invaluably resourceful personnel and resources.

The "madness" of which Martel speaks is the emotional conflict we face when we face conflict, when we choose to or are forced to leave our comfort zone. It is the madness of the unknown, the madness of the tyrant known as fear. It is the Goliath we face at these moments of personal challenge where we take a new perspective; place a new rock in our sling and discover new strength and courage we never had before, new, inexplicable motivations and ways of thinking. It is only in facing the obstacle, in standing up to Goliath, that we are given the opportunity to adapt and survive. It is in the opportunity to adapt and survive that we grow stronger and flourish.

When faced with a paradigm, with a solid and impliable way of thinking, your personal Goliath, take up your sling and place a new perspective within it. Goliath isn't that tough anyways. You know what they say; "The bigger they are, the harder they fall".

Create some Fire and Pass the Torch,

The Kanary Team

Author's Bio: 

John Kanary International is a leading personal and professional development organization dedicated, for over 35 years, to increasing effectiveness, unlocking potential and inspiring change, courage, commitment and tremendous results.

You must shift gears… you must develop success patterns that work. Don’t even consider you won’t realize your full potential. On a daily basis, we will bring you the tools, the mindest and the empowering attitude to increase performance and achieve outstanding results.

DECIDE, BELIEVE, BEGIN. Connect with us and take us up on our challenge to achieve your best.

JOHN KANARY was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, the son of a coal miner. He grew up in Toronto and was an outstanding high school athlete. In his early twenties, John launched his own express delivery service. After two successful years, he moved on to build his own business equipment company where he became the Number 1 dealer in the world.

In 1974, John found his greatest passion – speaking professionally. The legendary Earl Nightingale and his timeless recording “The Strangest Secret” motivated him to make it his life’s work. He later met and joined forces with Bob Proctor and jointly developed and built one of the world’s most popular programs, “Born Rich”.

“Born Rich” has been a part of great companies like Prudential of America, Metropolitan Life, Investors Group, London Life, Bank of Montreal, The National Hockey League, Singapore Airlines and The Great Eastern Life Assurance
Company. These are just some of John’s clients that have had sales people,families, and executives use the tools from “Born Rich”.

Co-developing Born Rich and his own programs, “Breaking Through Limitations”, “The Top Performer” and “Building a High Performance Team” has been a passionate 20-year journey for John that shows no signs of slowing down.
The Royal Bank of Canada Awards cited John as a “Canadian Achiever” in 1983. In 1993, John established John Kanary International Inc., to develop his coaching and leadership programs. He continues to deliver these programs around the world together with “Breaking Through Limitations” and “The Top Performer”. John is an avid sportsman and has earned a black belt in Karate. He shares his vision with the community through a teen program called “Roots & Wings” among other community interests.