Question about having a goal in religious practice. (or in a non religious life)

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Added question to those who do not follow any religious or spiritual teaching.

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Added question to those who do not follow any religious or spiritual teaching.

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

Think of the journey being the goal in mind.

So, say your vision is to be one with god in the afterlife. Your journey is to learn and practice towards that vision. Your goals are steps to get there.

So, if you're walking up the stairs to God (your vision), the journey is the path you chosen. Your goal is to make one more step.

I think the context you have in mind is more a goal to get a good job or a goal to leave wealth behind to a family when one dies. But you can say spiritual goal is your "vision" of who you want to be.

In other words, if you think of goal as an itinerary, yes. It would hinder those who grow more away from tradition. But I think a better word is vision. It won't hinder you to know who you want to become. Just don't make a nine to five schedule, and I think you'll be good.

Change your goal to a vision. That way you are still aiming towards something to complete but it's something greater than yourself. I don't see goals as a hinderence if you use them to mark your progress not your result.

Unveiled Artist said:

Think of the journey being the goal in mind.

So, say your vision is to be one with god in the afterlife. Your journey is to learn and practice towards that vision. Your goals are steps to get there.

So, if you're walking up the stairs to God (your vision), the journey is the path you chosen. Your goal is to make one more step.

I think the context you have in mind is more a goal to get a good job or a goal to leave wealth behind to a family when one dies. But you can say spiritual goal is your "vision" of who you want to be.

In other words, if you think of goal as an itinerary, yes. It would hinder those who grow more away from tradition. But I think a better word is vision. It won't hinder you to know who you want to become. Just don't make a nine to five schedule, and I think you'll be good.

Change your goal to a vision. That way you are still aiming towards something to complete but it's something greater than yourself. I don't see goals as a hinderence if you use them to mark your progress not your result.

Click to expand...

I like your answer @Unveiled Artist
My personal goal in life is to be the best version of me that i can possable be, then if i can do that maybe Allah grant me a place in paradise
In the past i believe i have been to focused or single minded about only looking at the spiritual aspect of life, and not taken in the fact that i am a human beings who still live in this world So yes my "goal" in life has shifted a bit. I think i would call it that I become more relaxed about the "goal" it self and focus more about what i do right now.

A problem i have with my self as a person is that i in the past always said, "Live in the present moment" but in reality i was living in the past or in the future, never actually paying attention to right now. So in a way i was not only fooling my self, i was portaying my self to others in a false way.

Conscious thoughts said:

I like your answer @Unveiled Artist
My personal goal in life is to be the best version of me that i can possable be, then if i can do that maybe Allah grant me a place in paradise
In the past i believe i have been to focused or single minded about only looking at the spiritual aspect of life, and not taken in the fact that i am a human beings who still live in this world So ye smy "goal" in life has shifted a bit. I think i would call it that I become more relaxed about the "goal" it self and focus more about what i do right now.

A problem i have with my self as a person is that i in the past always said, "Live in the present moment" but in reality i was living in the past or in the future, never actually paying attention to right now. So in a way i was not only fooling my self, i was portaying my self to others in a false way.

Click to expand...

For me the best version of myself would be the person God intended me to be. So sometimes the journey is an inward one, into my own self. Covid restrictions have helped me in that journey. In Catholicism we also have the reflective seasons of Advent and Lent (similar to your holy month of Ramadan) in these seasons we may set ourselves specific goals such as praying more, fasting and giving alms. What I have found is that some of these changes are now embedded in my everyday life, especially prayer. I pray several times a day because I really want to connect with God when all our churches have been closed. It has been very fruitful for me.
Living in the present can bring its own rewards, but only if we use that 'time' well. For me it is about offering up my day and then looking back in the evening to see if I did a good job. I frequently don't but every day is another birth and another chance to try again.

passerby said:

For me the best version of myself would be the person God intended me to be. So sometimes the journey is an inward one, into my own self. Covid restrictions have helped me in that journey. In Catholicism we also have the reflective seasons of Advent and Lent (similar to your holy month of Ramadan) in these seasons we may set ourselves specific goals such as praying more, fasting and giving alms. What I have found is that some of these changes are now embedded in my everyday life, especially prayer. I pray several times a day because I really want to connect with God when all our churches have been closed. It has been very fruitful for me.
Living in the present can bring its own rewards, but only if we use that 'time' well. For me it is about offering up my day and then looking back in the evening to see if I did a good job. I frequently don't but every day is another birth and another chance to try again.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your answer @passerby it is a very good answer too. And i agree with how you see it

Conscious thoughts said:

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?

Click to expand...

My goal is to maximise happiness. Sometimes I think about the long-term, but mostly the short-term. Other times I go along with life because I don't have a choice.

Conscious thoughts said:

What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

Knowledge, tasty food, games, movies and shows, companionship, thrilling experiences, etc.....

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Added question to those who do not follow any religious or spiritual teaching.

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

I don't see how having a goal can possibly be a hindrance. Sometimes goals can be reached. Sometimes they are lifelong struggles. But unless you press for something higher, you will remain mired in mediocrity.

As far as what happens when you reach a goal? Well, I have a lifelong objective to be 100% Hashem's, no hold backs, no compromises, completely his. It's an objective I will never fully reach, so there is always something more to do. I take it in increments. I finish one small battle, and then look to the next. Slowly over time, I make progress. I'm a better person now than I was when I made that decision. But I will always have more to do.

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Added question to those who do not follow any religious or spiritual teaching.

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

Ecclesiastes has many interesting insights into these questions.
1¶The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12¶I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16¶I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Click to expand...

As a taoist, and as a non-religious Christian, the only "goal" I recognize is authenticity. That is to be what we were created to be. So the question is, what were we created to be, and how to we achieve being it? And the solution is to practice honesty, spontaneity, and a positive appreciation for the gift of being.

Conscious thoughts said:

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?

Click to expand...

The truth is not something we need to realize. It is 'what is'. There is no need to pursue it, as it is ever-present. And it remains the truth whether I can cognate it, or not.

Conscious thoughts said:

Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Click to expand...

There is nowhere to "go". Being our authentic self is always in the here and now.

Conscious thoughts said:

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?

Click to expand...

Life is always 'today'.

Conscious thoughts said:

What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

The gift of being. Life is not for knowing, or doing, it's for being.

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Click to expand...

I suppose it would depend on the nature of the goal. But I would say no in most cases.

Conscious thoughts said:

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Click to expand...

If my initial intent was to obtain only a fraction of the truth, then I accomplished what I set out to do. If it wasn’t, then I didn’t reach my goal, in which case, I determine where I fell short and adjust my course.

Conscious thoughts said:

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

I live without a worry of what tomorrow will bring, Im very much a person that do what I feel like when I feel like it. I hate having schedules and being told what to do and when to do it.

I don't really worry about becoming a better person as I don't really think I do anything that could be considered hurtful towards others, whether that is humans or animals.

Being able to do what I want when I want it, is what I appreciate the most in life. The only thing I can think of that I would really want was an old motorcycle, maybe from around 1940-60 and just cruise around on that in the countryside

I tend to have 'goals' that are more processes than things that can be attained. So, to understand as much math as possible, or to be more caring towards others. Maybe this is better described as a 'vision' of what I want to be. But the point is that it is *never* completely achieved.

Then, I have various subgoals that bring me more in line with that vision. that way I have something definite that I can point to to say I have made one more step. But there is always another subgoal. There is always something else to work on to get closer to the vision.

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Added question to those who do not follow any religious or spiritual teaching.

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

I gave up on goalmaking. I adopted the proverb of the farmers son for getting through things.

Twilight Hue said:

I gave up on goalmaking. I adopted the proverb of the farmers son for getting through things.

Click to expand...

I can not say i have given up a goal, but i realize the goal is moving on its own the more i realize along the way

Conscious thoughts said:

If we say, "this is my goal in my religious practice" Isn`t that actually putting a hindrance for our own development?

Question: When you reach your goal, and then you realize your goal was only a fraction of the truth, what do you do then? do you carry on with a new goal?
Or do you I reach my goal so now i must not go further?

Added question to those who do not follow any religious or spiritual teaching.

Do you find having a goal, let say in work, or at home to make you become a better person, or do you live without a worry about how you do tomorrow?
What bring you happiness in life?

Click to expand...

I think it depends on the person, as to how effective making goals is. Often they're classified into short term, middle term, and long term goals. For sure they need to be realistic. Making unrealistic goals leads to sure failure.

Making goals works for me.

Ambition is a good thing, despite what some would say. Setting goals, and achieving them gives you a higher vantage point in being able to see and do more, so yes, you will find other goals to set and achieve.

Now, that doesn't mean one should set crazy expectations of themselves and get disappointed when those things don't happen, or don't happen as quickly as they'd like. Keep it simple, and climb your way up one step at a time.

Having goals to look forward to gives us motivation to better our lives, though, and puts us in a better position to help those around us when we get there.

Conscious thoughts said:

I like your answer @Unveiled Artist
My personal goal in life is to be the best version of me that i can possable be, then if i can do that maybe Allah grant me a place in paradise
In the past i believe i have been to focused or single minded about only looking at the spiritual aspect of life, and not taken in the fact that i am a human beings who still live in this world So ye smy "goal" in life has shifted a bit. I think i would call it that I become more relaxed about the "goal" it self and focus more about what i do right now.

A problem i have with my self as a person is that i in the past always said, "Live in the present moment" but in reality i was living in the past or in the future, never actually paying attention to right now. So in a way i was not only fooling my self, i was portaying my self to others in a false way.

Click to expand...

Hmm. Maybe past/present/future aren't divided?

Learn from your past/origin, learn your present/purpose, learn your future/your vision.

Like, for me, knowing about myself is to know about my family and things like that from the past. I found out I have some interesting patterns that may have gone back from generation to generation. Other things I've learned from that I would definitely not do now as I did back when I was younger. I wouldn't relive it but I can learn from it.

Likewise, having a vision (or life long goal) is always good as per mentioned. I'm honestly not sure there is a present. It's only less than a millisecond before it becomes the past. Try not to divide the time. The past only exists in our brains. Best we can is make use of it. As for future, that always leaves some people anxiety because they don't know. They can't change their past, they don't know their future, so they live in the present. I think there's a way to undivide time like that, as to how, I have no clue.

Maybe Allah knows?

Unveiled Artist said:

Hmm. Maybe past/present/future aren't divided?

Learn from your past/origin, learn your present/purpose, learn your future/your vision.

Like, for me, knowing about myself is to know about my family and things like that from the past. I found out I have some interesting patterns that may have gone back from generation to generation. Other things I've learned from that I would definitely not do now as I did back when I was younger. I wouldn't relive it but I can learn from it.

Likewise, having a vision (or life long goal) is always good as per mentioned. I'm honestly not sure there is a present. It's only less than a millisecond before it becomes the past. Try not to divide the time. The past only exists in our brains. Best we can is make use of it. As for future, that always leaves some people anxiety because they don't know. They can't change their past, they don't know their future, so they live in the present. I think there's a way to undivide time like that, as to how, I have no clue.

Maybe Allah knows?

Click to expand...

You have no clue WUT....from what you write it does sound like you have a big clue to what you say

Maybe time does not exist at all, only experiences of we see as past and future

Conscious thoughts said:

You have no clue WUT....from what you write it does sound like you have a big clue to what you say

Maybe time does not exist at all, only experiences of we see as past and future

Click to expand...

Yeah. Thanks. It's living it out that's the problem. I have no where to "go."

But, yeah, I think that is it. I actually came across that more distinctly in therapy. When we have traumatic experiences, our bodies "hold on" to the physiological experience. So, if we experience something today, a trigger, our body can't tell the difference between past and present. So, it would react the same as if one was still in that situation (say PTSD).

The mind realizes they are no longer in that traumatic situation anymore, and it helps the body (with professional help) to adjust and relieve those physiological reactions when the mind knows its no longer in danger.

If our bodies can't tell between past and present, and our minds are the function of our brain's neurology, I wouldn't be surprised if our minds were the same we just try to "think" we can control time but we really can't.

Here I go again...

Unveiled Artist said:

Yeah. Thanks. It's living it out that's the problem. I have no where to "go."

But, yeah, I think that is it. I actually came across that more distinctly in therapy. When we have traumatic experiences, our bodies "hold on" to the physiological experience. So, if we experience something today, a trigger, our body can't tell the difference between past and present. So, it would react the same as if one was still in that situation (say PTSD).

The mind realizes they are no longer in that traumatic situation anymore, and it helps the body (with professional help) to adjust and relieve those physiological reactions when the mind knows its no longer in danger.

If our bodies can't tell between past and present, and our minds are the function of our brain's neurology, I wouldn't be surprised if our minds were the same we just try to "think" we can control time but we really can't.

Here I go again...

Click to expand...

Again i find you to know what you talking about I have had PTSD since 2015 but have it under control now, Not that it ever will fully go away but one can live a very good life even with the diagnosis of PTSD, As you say, yes one does need help to sort the thoughts and feelings after a traumatic experience