Imagine this: you’re on a long road trip, driving without a specific destination in mind, hoping to end up somewhere wonderful. It sounds risky, doesn’t it? While you might occasionally stumble upon a great find, it’s more likely that you’ll spend much of your time wondering if you’ll ever reach where you want to go.
Just like a road trip, life needs direction to arrive at a meaningful destination. Without clear goals, we risk using a lot of energy while still feeling lost.
Let’s reframe the way we think about goals. Goals are not simply tools for ultra-achievers; goals are simply a way to give your movement a purpose. Goals ensure that you’re heading in the direction you want.
The Equation for Goals
Desired Destination = Movement + Purpose
Every destination begins with movement. We are constantly moving, whether intentionally or not. Movement represents the energy and effort we put into our daily lives, steering us in a particular direction. The challenge is ensuring that our movement aligns with our desired destination rather than taking us somewhere random.
This is where purpose comes in. Purpose provides clarity and direction for your movement. It’s the reason behind your actions, the intentional choices that guide your path. Without purpose, even the most diligent effort can lead to frustration or stagnation.
To create your desired destination, you need both components: movement and purpose. Movement without purpose leads to aimless wandering, while purpose without movement is just a dream. Together, they form the roadmap to your goals, ensuring your energy is focused and your actions lead somewhere meaningful.
Clarifying the Destination
I love the week between Christmas and New Year’s. In our family’s rhythm, this is a quiet week. Everyone is off work and school, and we often stay home without significant obligations. It’s the calmest week of our year. Along with the stillness, it’s usually cold. Having lived in the deep south my whole life, I associate those few chilly days with a natural time to pause, reflect, and reset my direction.
During this time, I “check the map,” so to speak. I reflect on the previous year, evaluating whether I reached the destinations I identified. I consider which goals need more time and what new goals should be added. You could call this an annual goal-setting retreat, but that sounds far too formal.
For me, it’s more about sitting in the backyard with a notebook while the kids play with their new Christmas toys. No flip charts, fancy templates, or expectations—just time alone to process where I am and where I’m heading. I ask myself these questions:
Questions to Clarify Your Destination
- How am I doing in each of these areas:
- Family, Marriage, Home
- Spiritual Life
- Work
- Friendships
- Hobbies
- What do I want to be true in these areas by next year?
- What patterns have I noticed in these areas that could keep me from reaching my goals next year?
Setting Up Splits
Marathons intimidate me. I’m not a runner and the thought of running 26.2 miles is so daunting that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Many of us view long-term goals this way. We set big goals that scare us a bit (and they should), yet these goals seem so overwhelming that we give up too early. That’s why so many New Year’s resolutions fail—we lose motivation and quit because our first few steps of progress seem too insignificant compared to the larger goal.
Experienced runners warn us to not fixate on the full marathon distance. Instead, they focus on splits—smaller segments of the race—to make the goal more manageable. While I’m still not planning to run a marathon, this is excellent advice for goal setting. We must setup ‘splits’ to help us pace ourselves on our path to our desired destination.
The 6×6 Method: Your Action Plan
Years ago, I learned the 6×6 method from former pastor Bill Hybels. This practical tool has helped me countless times when I’ve felt stuck, giving me clarity and a manageable way forward.
Here’s how it works:
- Identify Six Priorities: Write down the six most impactful tasks that lead to movement on your goals that only you can do over the next six weeks.
- Focus Your Effort: Commit to completing these six priorities within six weeks. Use them as your guiding focus, knowing they’re the critical actions that will propel you toward your goal.
- Reevaluate and Refresh: After six weeks, review your progress. Celebrate your accomplishments, identify what still needs work, and set the next six priorities for the following six weeks.
This method works because it balances ambition with practicality. For my strong Type “A” friends, the 6×6 is not meant to apply to every area of your life simultaneously. Creating a “24×6” will only overwhelm you and lead to burnout. The beauty of the 6×6 method lies in its simplicity and focus. It’s not about doing everything at once; it’s about focusing on the most important things right now that keep you on the pathway to your desired destination.
Where Are You Heading?
No matter the time of year, create some white space to reflect on the destination you’re heading toward. What will be true of your life in six months, one year, or five years if you stay on your current trajectory?
Remember, we are all moving. The choice is whether we add purpose to our movement. Doing so allows us to change our direction and arrive at our desired destination.
