Look Back: To go Forward.

Looking back to go forward; Ka mua, ka muri is a Māori proverb that expresses a great truth around a simple image. The image is of a person walking backwards into the future. It suggests that the past is clearly visible, but the future is not, that we have imperfect information for the road ahead, but also that this is a natural state of affairs. Let us look back for clues to the way forward, but also understand that the future is unwritten. The future comes out of the past but will not be identical to it. The only unchanging thing is change. (Patrick Reynolds)

I love taking long walks along the beach.  I set a direction and a point along the beach to walk towards and begin my journey. As I walk there, I am often looking at distinct landmarks, what’s ahead of me and how close I am to my destination. As I’m walking back, I like to try and identify my footprints in the sand but also observe other prints that have been left by animals, birds, and people. I reflect on what the print can tell me about what has happened, things like, a person and a dog going for a walk, or two dogs playing and have scuffed up the sand or sea birds foraging for food. There are places where the sea has concealed prints and the path becomes unclear. I also look for familiar landmarks and consider how far away I am from where I started the walk. The journey back tells me more about where I have been and what I didn’t see than what I did see on the way there.

“You have to look back to see footprints in the sand”

Setting and executing goals can be like long walks along the beach, the easy part is setting the goal, the hard part is knowing what the journey to the goal is going to be like. As you journey toward a goal it helps to look back to get perspective and context.

Perspective helps you to:

·       Understand how much progress has been made toward the goal

·       Measure the momentum and if the journey towards the goal is moving at the right pace

·       Be accountable for check ins and who or what is keeping you on track towards your goal

Context can:

·       Help you identify what’s changed or if anything needs to change with your goal execution

·       Remind you why you set the goal and that there will be challenges and obstacles

·       Help you see where you have grown as you progress toward your goal

When there is not much happening with your goal progress, maybe it is time to look back and get some perspective and context. Without this intention your goal can easily get off track or be stalled.

 My 5 Learnings:

·       Looking back helps me orientate towards my future goals

·       I need to take time to look back at my goal progress

·       I can think about how I’m growing through my goals

·       Sometimes I will need to adjust my goal execution

·       Looking back provides, perspective and context

It is important with large goals to break them down into manageable actions. Be encouraged to take small steps towards your goals every day. This will help with keeping momentum even if your time frames get pushed out.

 My 3 Questions for you:

·       Who do you have that holds you to account for your goal execution?

·       How do you keep on track with your goals?

·       Is your goal in a stalled state?

“That's the funny thing about time. It is only in looking back that it's easy to connect the dots. To see exactly why everything needed to happen the way that it did.” - Rebecca Serle

 If you need help with goal setting, or if you have questions, please talk to me. I would be happy to chat with you and help.

 Remember daily to, “Find value in your influence”

Written By: Paul Fawcett.