Alice Kim (she/her), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
On the first of every month, I like to set goals for myself. They are random, silly, and little things that I write down in my notebook to add a bit of whimsy. One month, it was to go to the cinema by myself. Another month, it was to attend a fitness class that I had never tried before. I love being able to check things at the end of each month and feel a sense of accomplishment for something that might seem small to others.
Often, when exploring ambition, we immediately set grandiose expectations for ourselves. Maybe it is related to career progression, or even tailored to serve our health and wellness. Regardless of the specifics, we are taught to shoot for the moon because even if we cannot achieve quite what we pictured, we will land among the stars—or however the saying goes. But does this mean what some people might consider to be “smaller objectives” are not worth conjuring or pursuing? The arbitrary parameters that people have set for what counts as a proper goal can be detrimental. Personal growth can be defined in increments, in silly little objectives, that have great returns.
So, what are some examples of silly little objectives that are not truly silly or little? It is easy to get swept away by the chilly winds of autumn and stay huddled inside. A silly little objective for this season could be to brave the crisp autumn morning air for at least 10 minutes. If you are feeling up for it, you could even turn that into a walk, but the objective remains the same: feel the cold. You can feel winter’s eve and see how the tree leaves have already changed to hues of crimson. Will this inspire you to do something else? Who knows. That may be the beauty of setting these silly little objectives: they could snowball into something else, but they do not always have to. However, this simple act is an essential habit for resetting your circadian rhythm and a good building block for a successful morning routine. Getting that fresh air in the morning, and feeling the sense of accomplishment it gives, is so important.
What is another example of a silly little objective? Well, you could decide to add more steps into your daily commute to work by taking extra long to get to your destination. Common sense would suggest making the commute as short as possible by taking the easiest, most efficient route. But what would happen if you got off at the bus stop right before your regular stop? What would happen if you parked at a different spot from your regular one, one that is farther away from the building entrance? During this time, as you walk a little bit more, you might be able to look around and notice more things that you had not before. Or not, but you’ll be getting a lot of extra movement in.
You could also start leaving sweet notes and messages for yourself in random places—in your lunch box, on your mirror, and maybe even in your shoes! Instead of writing a generic message, you can tailor each one for yourself. This could be tedious and annoying at first, which is why it’s a silly little objective. But what could change during that time you come up with nice thoughts for yourself and afterwards, when you read those nice thoughts? As you grab your lunch during a crazy morning at work: “You are so smart and capable of everything that life throws at you.” As you look in the mirror: “You shine so brightly like the sun and are just as beautiful.” As you reach down to put your shoes on: “Stinky!” Perhaps not with the last one, but as time passes, all those thoughts will be something you will come to internalize.
It is fun to call things silly little objectives to take the pressure off them. It makes certain goals less daunting and more attainable. However, it is important not to take the phrase literally, believe it, and let it belittle your growth. Because at the end of the day, nothing is silly or little when it comes to ambition.
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