The Danger Zone of Sharing Goals

I’ve been told that after 90 days I will know the sound of my own voice. And what sound my audience enjoys from me. So, I’ve now made it my goal to post every day for 90 days. There. I’ve said it.

I’ve heard conflicting opinions on doing this - sharing goals before completion. Some think it’s a danger zone. That it kills the drive somehow. Kills the magic that fuels the drive might be an even better way of describing it.

There’ve been studies that have shown that the MORE committed a person is to their goals the more likely they are to fail if they publicize their goals! Something having to do with the brain receiving it’s dopamine reward prematurely when the awesomeness of the goal is recognized and acknowledged before the goal is actually reached. The reward then happens all at once versus the slower hit release. The more positive strokes we get for just simply having the goal, the more dopamine gets released. And then it’s all pooped out. Done. And I get it. Pretty sure this has happened to me. And not seldom either.

So whatever you do, do not compliment me on my 90 day writing streak goal, don’t think I’m awesome for it (but feel free to think I’m awesome for other things. I don’t think that’s a problem.) and definitely don’t tell me that my goal is a shoe in and I’m gonna make it happen.

You see, another piece in my hesitation to share is that I’m a bit of a contrarian, a bit of a rebel sometimes (trust me, I know…yikes). Sometimes it’s an urge or a reflex to do the opposite, to break or bend the rules ever so slightly, just to make sure exceptions are still a thing. And if they are my own rules and guidelines, that makes it even more tempting. Sometimes it’s about challenging assumptions and norms, even if they’re my own. Maybe even especially then. Sometimes I just gotta do it. There’ve been times it served me well, and other times I’ve served it.  

But you know what? Feeling the feeling of having people in your corner - people who got your back and want to see you succeed because they believe in you - that’s the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket right there.

So, here I am risking it all in sharing my goal with you. It has been written. It’s officially floating out there in the Cosmos no longer confined to the cramped limitations of my cranium. Let it beeeee sooooooooo. And to you, dark resistance, or otherwise sabotaging entities lurking in the shadows of the dark corners, to you I say; “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!”.