We have been taught from our childhood, first, decide your goal and work towards it. So we work hard for good scores in competitive exams, elocutions and sports to stand out over others. We are happy when we reach our goals. But what happens when we cannot reach the goal? The sad feeling of failure and frustration! When thirty compete,2-3 are happy winners and all other failures!!

The best thing is to focus on the process. Be happy ‘doing’ things without bothering about the outcome. Enjoy the process of ‘competition’.If you win, wonderful. If you don’t win then also wonderful. Happiness is all along the lane not at the end of the lane.

It is a good thing that you have a goal to reach the Everest top. After you reach there, how long will you be happy? Maximum half an hour.Further, what if you had to give up the expedition, just before the last day because of a snowstorm? Failure! The best thing will be to enjoy the expedition throughout starting from the base camp.No body can take away that success from you.

You are a high schoolboy. You have a goal to become a great engineer. Surely this will help you to decide which entrance exam to choose. Once you do this, put your best efforts, don’t think where you reach. You may get in IIT ( very good), NIT ( (this also is good)or other state engineering college( this is also wonderful). Focus on the process. A good result will mostly follow. Even if the ‘goal’ is missed, that is also wonderful as something better may be awaiting for you.

Suhas has a job that requires a lot of travelling. He does not get enough time to share with his wife Sudha. Due to a busy schedule sometimes he forgets to call Sudha. Today he is in Delhi. Tomorrow he will be returning home and be with Sudha for her birthday. He bought a nice Silk Sari for her. He was eagerly waiting to see a great smile from his wife on receiving this surprise gift.

On coming home, Suhas showed the present to Sudha immediately. She said,”15 years of marriage and still don’t you know I don’t like these dull colours? You spent Rs.8000 for this Sari? I would have got two Kanchivaram Sarees with this much money when I am going to Bangalore next month!” 

Suhas spent the whole day lying on the sofa in the hall and escaped to the next destination city on Monday.

You have no control on the outcome. Invest in the process and actions, not in the outcome. Goals are required for setting direction, nothing more.

The problem with focusing on just goals in life is that you can fall into the trap of feeling happy only when you’ve achieved your goal. You may fail to consider other outcomes. If you consistently do your best every day and focus on improving, instead of obsessing over the outcome, most likely you will get better results.

Any creative or innovative process is more empowering than a one-time blow of achievement.

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