#258 Goal-orientation & Expectations

     If we work long and hard to achieve a goal, even if we do achieve it, the goal probably can't live up to our expectations. After all, didn't we give up or delay truly living in order to achieve the goal? Didn't we also give up who we think we are to single-mindedly pursue this goal? Isn't our authenticity too valuable to give up, regardless of the goal?
     A common example is working overly hard, perhaps in a less-than-satisfying work environment and then expect to make up for it all with an expensive exotic week-long vacation. No matter how well this precious week - 2% of the year - goes, it can't possibly make up for 51 weeks of purgatory!
     Does it not make sense to ensure that 100% of our life, moment-to-moment, is lived as authentically as possible - consciously, meaningfully, mindfully?
     Striving toward a goal has features of egotistic materialism - climbing over people & things to reach the top. This leaves us impoverished, diminished.
     Being authentic, on the other hand, does not look or feel as busy, everything that needs to be done is accomplished, and the doer has grown in the process.

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