The Flip Side

This post is sort of an addendum to my last one: Seven Steps to Reaching Your Goals.

It’s good to be driven and have healthy goals. We live in a society that rewards type A personalities. We get promoted, we get medals, we get accolades. We’re continually striving to improve our lives (be that psychically, monetarily, emotionally or spiritually). But there can be a downside. Sometimes, we can become so goal driven, we forget to stop and check in with our surroundings.

We also live in a time of hyper connectivity. We’re constantly making human connections, via text, facebook, twitter, etc. With one click of an icon we can instantly share a thought with hundreds of people. In many ways, it’s a great thing. But social media can become addictive. We can become dependent on it to feel content. You can feel the need to connect with your social media friends at all times. But what about the people you really care about? Your significant other? Your family? Your real friends? When was the last time you really reached out and connected with them?

Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own ambitions; our own lives, we lose sight of the things that actually count. It can happen to anyone. We need to make sure that in our pursuit of our goals and in the muddle of social media, we don’t neglect the people who matter the most.

Given, not every person is worth investing in. There are relationships that are truly unhealthy. For whatever reason, some people may need to remain in your life but in order to keep a peaceful heart, it’s better to keep them at a distance. What I’m referring to here, are the people who are important to you. The people who are always there, but we sometimes take for granted.

In many ways, every relationship you have is like a flower. If you neglect it, it will wither. And if you neglect it for too long, it can die. It is the ultimate paradox – by searching for a better way of life and trying to connect with others, we can destroy the most significant relationships in our lives. Like the shriveled flower, sometimes you can dig under the dead plant and find a part of the root that is still alive. You have to acknowledge it. Is this relationship valuable to you? If it is, you can begin to nurture it again. Hopefully, it will grow back, maybe even stronger than before. Maybe not.

The key is to recognize it, and do something about it, before it’s too late.

So, my advice to you, from one goal oriented person to another, is to stay true to yourself and follow your ambitions. Dream Big. But, stay grounded. Make sure to stop and disconnect from your agenda, the daily routine and social media for a while to just be. Check in with the people you love and make sure you’re nurturing your significant relationships along the way.