Intentions Vs. Goals

At the beginning of every new year, people will often set goals. 

I have never bought into that. 

I avow that setting intentions is more effective than conventional goal-setting. 

For long-term change, goal-setting only set me up for frustration. It was very easy for me to pick unrealistic, or overly-easy, goals. I’ve since found that setting intentions leads to increased discipline, which fosters increased consistency. 

With a martial art like jiujitsu, consistency is your best path to success. 

Intentions shift the frame to the journey. 

Success in jiujitsu is neither about getting the belt, nor winning the tournament; it’s about the journey. This sounds trite, but I tell you I am of an age to know it’s true, which must be why all my teachers told me the same. 

With jiujitsu, your intentions should simply be to show up.  So many guys fall by the wayside because they fall short of some preconceived goal like earning a particular-colored belt, or winning a particular medal in a particular tournament  

My own intention was always to enjoy the journey (since I started  later in life) both enjoying the journey and developing a disciplined practice. 

Even from the beginning, my intention was playing the long game. 

For me, I was never “in it to win it”, but simply to “in it to stay in it”!

Right from the start, I wanted to grow into one of those venerable old guys on the mat, still spry and respected. And the most important aspect of that respect was respecting myself. 

Don’t let me be misunderstood: there were plenty of times I had goals in mind- of earning certain rank, beating on-mat rivals, and collecting tournament medals.. but striving for such external gratifications led to burnout, and I’d find my enjoyment of jiujitsu reduced. 

I found that being competitive led to injuries from pushing myself too hard, for a goal, that in the bigger scheme of things, held little importance. 

I’m not saying to never set goals, but check that they are in line with sustainability, if what you ultimately want is to stay in it. 

Goals are pretty much fixed targets, and the motivation(s) to pursue them can wildly fluctuate, i.e. weather, schedule, mood, fatigue, stress, and the novelty wearing off. 

I tell you, in the Pacific Northwest, in the dark days of February, it can require discipline to get in there and I’m the instructor getting paid to teach!

For me, now, my intention is to get in there and have fun; keep it playful. Hanging out and wrestling with the young guys keeps me in a young man’s mindset. Why would I want to hang out with a bunch of stiff seventy year olds when I can better relate to youthful male virtue?

When life gets in the way, like injury, a busy work week, a low-energy mood, a goal will sit there, unchanging, and possibly overwhelming. 

For me, discipline is the daily decision to act, regardless of feelings, regardless of some (possibly) arbitrary milestone. 

Discipline is showing up, training, and making an honest effort. 

Times when I feel like missing class, I remember how much better I feel when I show up and do what I’m pledged to do. Sounds bleak? These are the realities of working in the martial arts. 

Every time my mind might wander into such dark meanderings, then I go to class, and stick with my discipline—and I always feel way better. And so I will continue—as long as I can tie a belt on—to get on that mat. 

If that’s your intention and Goal to -

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