Commitment to a goal

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps." -David Lloyd George


I feel like I've come across this quote more than a few times recently. Meanwhile, I'm realizing how much I don't like the concept of "everything in moderation".


I know that I sometimes make small changes to slowly work towards a goal. As I've gotten older, I've realized that small changes or small actions don't move me forward very quickly. If we are goal oriented, then our steps need to be significant. "Everything in moderation" can become a cop-out, letting us pretend like we are actually working towards a goal.


Deciding to take big steps is empowering. But most of the time it's not like jumping into the deep end of the pool; it's more subtle, when we just know and act. When we are honest with ourselves about how effective we are moving towards a goal, or how ready we are to tackle it, it's a lot easier to make the necessary changes.

wind-scoured Ingraham Glacier

It also might mean that we are ready for the final step. It might be time to cut out food x or beverage x; it might be time to forget about completing every route in our training pyramid and getting on our goal route; it might be that we have accumulated enough experience to ski that scary shot at the far end of the cirque. Whatever the goal, there comes a time to really commit to attaining or completing it. "Everything in moderation" is not the ticket to get us there.


This leads into my thought for the day: Commitment to a goal means forgetting moderation. Big actions provide big results.


Here's a related quote: "Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess." -Oscar Wilde