Goals are perhaps the most vital piece of success. Goals add fuel to the fire and guidance to the hustle. The only path to greatness is by setting clearly defined goals and working your butt off to achieve them.

But...

What is the true purpose of setting goals?

Is it the final outcome and nothing more?

Goals offer guidance and direction to a journey. Reaching the outcome at the end feels incredible but never fail to see the value in the individual steps required to reach that goal.

The true purpose of setting a goal is to embody the qualities that the specific accomplishment requires rather than the outcome itself. Power lifting competition aside, is a 400lb squat truly more meaningful to your overall strength and performance than a 390lb squat? Is it less meaningful to performance than 410lbs? The true goals is to be incredibly strong and powerful and to create the type of body that is capable of performing a heavy squat as well as many other feats of athleticism. The number on the bar helps you measure your progress but the number itself is meaningless outside of the value that you attach to it.

I really want to accomplish a full middle split. As impressive as I deem this feat, the true goal is to have the type of hip mobility and flexibility that allows a full middle split because of the freedom and movement potential that it creates.

Goals are important to give us direction and push us forward. Attaching too much meaning to the outcome can lead you to lose sight of your original intent. I try to focus on the direction rather than the destination and celebrate the process rather than the result.

I still want the splits but I also appreciate the growth and learning along the journey to achieve them. I have discovered and invented several new stretches, movements, and patterns. I have researched deeper into hip, pelvic, and leg anatomy. I have tested many things that did not benefit me. All of this work and discovery brings new joy to my personal movement practice and allows me to better teach and train others.

Have I accomplished a middle split yet? No.

Am I a more embodied and fluid mover, a more effective teacher, and overall better human because of my work and progress. Hell yes!

Do not stop setting goals. Do not stop working your butt off to achieve them. Do not stop attaching value to the final outcome. However, learn to love the whole process for the growth that each stage brings.

The first step of a journey brings you equally closer to the destination as does the final step and every step in between. Which is the most valuable step?