#443 – How can you balance setting goals and surrendering?

Spiritual teachers advise us to surrender to the Universe (or Spirit, or God). And material-world teachers tell us to set goals, if we want to amount to anything.

How can we balance those two seemingly opposing acts? To surrender spiritually, while acting in the world?

I asked that question at a UA meeting and the answer satisfied me in the moment: "you set goals, take the necessary actions, and stop controlling the outcome."

This idea short-circuits my brain because what's a goal, if not a "desired end result?"

When last year I created the journal From Dream To Done!, I wanted to help people (starting with myself) manifest their dreams. The user would create a vision for themselves and then set 30-day goals, to be realized by taking three to five actions each day.

Great! Only the goals I set were "desired end results" like: "to maintain a five-figure balance in my bank account." When, after two 30-day periods these hadn't happened, I threw the journal across the room, pursed my lips, folded my arms.

I've heard in UA meetings, "I'm not in the results business, but in the taking-action business."

How can I reframe what I think a "goal" is?

Can it be an action protocol? A guide for when to take action, what sort of action to take, and in what direction?

If that's so, a goal that helps me advance while leaving me unattached to the outcome is, "to write every day." But one that keeps me tied to the end-result and not to progress is, "to write a NYT Bestselling book."

That's liberating! No more chasing something I can't guarantee; I devote myself to the practice that carries me forward.

What action protocol will help you advance toward your vision, unattached?

Love,

Carolina