Your Personal Philosophy
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t set outcome goals. I think you should know what you are working towards, why and how you are going to achieve it. Time is precious and we need a plan to allocate our time most effectively. Goals can be inspiring and motivate us to put in the effort each day.
However, if the only goals we have are results based goals, there are drawbacks to the approach, such as:
1. It takes us away from the present
2. We can tie our identity in with the achievement of the goal
3. It can cause frustration and a loss of motivation if you don’t achieve them
4. It can leave a hole once we achieve them
A Better Approach To Goal Setting: Living by A Personal Philosophy
An outcome goals approach should be combined with a values-based approach. Values are unlike outcome goals in that we don’t achieve them, instead we live by them.
When I begin working with a bowler and ask them the question “Why do you bowl? What are your goals in bowling?”, more often than not I get a list of tournaments they would like to win or “to become a Tour player”. To be honest I find the most refreshing answer to be “I love the game and I just want to keep getting better”.
A values-based approach to goal setting will make your outcome goals in line with the bowler or person that you want to bring to each day (in the present), rather than chasing results in the future.
Don’t get me wrong, choosing value-based goals doesn’t mean that you want to be a great bowler any less than you currently do. If I was to say to my elite players, “score doesn’t matter, success is about values”, they might take issue with it. My view is that if you keep living by the philosophy of being a better human and a better athlete, you will improve and bring these more commonly thought of measures of success (tournament wins, higher average, etc.) closer towards you.
Let’s turn the goal setting process upside down. Instead of thinking about the outcomes you want to achieve - let’s think about the values and purpose first (that will really make you feel more fulfilled) and set outcome goals that support you developing those values. This means that every thought and action that you take will be in accordance with those values. Let’s find a deeper purpose for bowling than making this the year that you win your league championship, local scratch tournament, USBC Eagle or professional tournament. Results will come and go but values will stand that test of time.
Being an extraordinary human being should be your number one goal. Who is the person/bowler that you want to be? What is the philosophy that you want to live each day, game, tournament and practice session by? Write it down. Here are a few examples of values: curiosity, focus, integrity, acceptance, growth mindset, work ethic, kindness, being class on and off the lanes, compassion, preparedness, gratitude, patience.
Put together a statement which encompasses the values that you want to uphold and do so in every day and every game you bowl. You always win when you live by your personal philosophy no matter how you bowl or how the day goes. Winning trophies and tournaments is great but developing values is the most rewarding thing we can take from the sport of bowling.
Develop your personal philosophy today to Win the Day!
Develop your personal philosophy today to Win the Day!