Goals (Part 6)
This is the final message in this series on Goals. Do I hear applause in the background?
I don’t generally comment on the number of responses I receive from readers on any particular topic. However, I received very few responses relating to Goals – and it surprised me.
After all, this would seem to be a topic that is relevant to almost everyone. Most people, especially those interested in self-development and/or spiritual growth, have strong opinions about goals. Just about everyone I know feels some conflict between material desires and spiritual growth.
Please understand that I am not saying that you “should” have submitted comments. I’m not trying to encourage you to participate – or to feel guilty for not responding on this subject. You don’t owe me an explanation.
I mentioned to the people who DID respond that I had gotten few emails on this topic. Each person was surprised as they thought this was a topic that would generate much interest.
When I invited people in my last message to share their spiritual goals, I received one email. I am not jumping to the conclusion that you don’t have spiritual goals. There is no rule that you need to share them.
In my view, and I’m just speculating, I think the mind tends to close off the discussion of certain aspects of goals. Where the material goals and spiritual growth conflict, the mind would rather change the subject.
Where questions arise as to how much control we actually have over our goals and our lives – or whether goals are even necessary – the mind has little interest in investigating these matters. Inconsistencies are going to be exposed. Easier to sweep it under the rug and continue with our existing beliefs.
One subscriber put it quite well: “Our rational minds want to tie everything up with a bow and make good logical, rational sense of things. Often times, on an issue like goal setting, things are just not rational and logical at all.”
Actually, I’m grateful that so many of you take the time to submit comments in response to my newsletter articles. I know you’re busy. The silence on the topic of goal setting (and its relation to spiritual growth) was so noticeable that I wanted to discuss it.
But now the discussion is over and we can move on!
– Jeff Keller
© 2009