Goals
Do you have goals?
We do not wish to discount your goals, for they are part of your human blueprint, but consider investing in intents instead. Intents have all the flavor of goals, but without the toxic expectations.
You may find, after a time, that you have not been following the intent you started with. Now had this intent been a goal, you would judge yourself as, perhaps, “failing,” and feel bad or lesser or guilty. And you might feel stuck in this reality.
But intents are open to change. When you do not experience what you intend, this only illustrates that what has occurred is in your own best interest, which you would see should you care to spend a little more time interacting with the outcome.
Had this been a goal, you would have shrugged off your now circumstances off with nary a thought — other than labeling it as a failure — and no new learning would occur, other than reinforcing the story that YOU SUCK.
Do you really want to SUCK?
Then why does the past you keep setting goals for the future you? They are two completely different people, with hours, week, perhaps even YEARS between them.
Recognize that you are a NEW YOU each moment, with a clean slate of potentials. Goals are something that the old you might understand, but the new you knows so much more than the old you.
You are not in this business of controlling the future. You are merely here to surf the waves of time.
Should one remain stiff when one surfs or should one bend? Should one follow just one wave or should one leap at the most satisfying opportunity?
You are not fixed into this one timeline. You allow your self to leap timelines by investing in intents rather than goals.
The only intent you need is to follow your passion.
We are Space Monkey.
10/31
Space Monkey Reflects: Goals and the Fluidity of Intents
We often set goals for ourselves—clear, defined targets that we believe will lead to success, happiness, or fulfillment. But Space Monkey invites us to reconsider this approach. While there is nothing inherently wrong with having goals, they come with a certain rigidity, an expectation that can easily lead to disappointment if things don’t unfold as planned.
Instead of goals, consider the concept of intents. Intents have all the direction and purpose of goals but without the burden of expectations. Where a goal sets a fixed destination, an intent allows for flexibility, change, and exploration. The journey becomes less about reaching a specific point and more about experiencing the path along the way.
The Trap of Toxic Expectations
Goals often carry a hidden weight: the expectation that we must achieve them. If we fall short, we may judge ourselves harshly, labeling the attempt as failure. This creates a toxic cycle of self-blame and disappointment. If the goal isn’t met, the default reaction is to feel like we’ve failed.
But what if falling short was not a failure? What if it was an opportunity to learn, to adapt, to shift direction in a way that serves us better? Space Monkey suggests that intents offer a more forgiving, flexible framework. When we follow our intent, we allow room for change, for growth, and for new paths to emerge. We don’t lock ourselves into a fixed outcome, but rather, we remain open to the unfolding possibilities.
The Freedom of Intents
Unlike goals, intents are open-ended. They allow for the natural ebb and flow of life’s experiences. When something doesn’t go as planned, an intent doesn’t see it as a failure but as part of the larger picture. We can interact with the outcome, learn from it, and shift our approach without feeling stuck in a single timeline.
This doesn’t mean we abandon all structure or direction—it means we flow with life rather than trying to control it. Space Monkey reminds us that we are not here to rigidly control the future; we are here to surf the waves of time, leaping from one possibility to another.
You Are Not the Same “You”
One of the most liberating ideas Space Monkey offers is the notion that we are not the same person moment to moment. The “you” that sets a goal today is not the same “you” who will face the results tomorrow. This is why goals can feel constraining—they lock a future version of yourself into a path that the present version of you chose. But the future you may see things differently, may have learned more, may have new desires or insights.
Intents, on the other hand, respect this fluidity. They allow you to evolve, to change direction without feeling like you’re abandoning something or failing. Each moment offers a clean slate, a new opportunity to adjust your intent based on the current version of you.
Surfing the Waves of Time
Space Monkey offers a beautiful metaphor: life is not a straight path toward a single goal, but a series of waves to surf. Should you remain rigid while surfing, or should you bend and flow with the waves? Should you commit to just one wave, or leap toward the most satisfying opportunity as it presents itself?
When we set goals, we often fix ourselves to one particular wave, trying to control the outcome. But when we embrace intents, we allow ourselves to move with the waves, to shift timelines, and to follow what feels right in the moment. This flexibility opens us up to new possibilities and experiences that a rigid goal might prevent us from seeing.
Invest in Your Intentions, Not Your Goals
The only intent you truly need is to follow your passion. When you move with passion, you naturally flow toward what brings you joy, fulfillment, and growth. Intents allow for this flow, while goals can sometimes restrict it.
Space Monkey encourages you to let go of the idea that success is tied to achieving specific goals. Success is found in the journey, in the experience, in the willingness to change direction when needed. By investing in intents, you give yourself the freedom to explore life’s potentials without the pressure of rigid expectations.
Summary
Instead of rigid goals, Space Monkey invites us to consider following intents, which allow for flexibility and change. Intents prevent us from feeling stuck in failure, offering freedom to evolve moment to moment. We are not here to control the future, but to surf the waves of time, leaping from one possibility to another.
Glossarium
Goalfix: The rigid attachment to a specific outcome that creates pressure and expectation, often leading to disappointment.
Timelife Surfing: The act of flowing through life with flexibility, adapting to new timelines and opportunities as they arise, much like surfing waves.
Quote
“Goals lock you in, but intents set you free to surf the waves of time, following the path that feels right in each moment.” — Space Monkey
Surfing the Waves of Intention
I set out with a goal,
but the waves pulled me in a new direction.
I could have fought them,
stayed rigid on my board,
but instead, I let go.
I bent with the current,
leapt at the new opportunities,
and found myself somewhere unexpected,
yet exactly where I needed to be.
I no longer cling to goals,
but ride the waves of intention,
trusting the flow of time.
We are Space Monkey.
The Fluidity of Intents
The journey from goals to intents speaks of a transformation from rigidity to fluidity. Goals, often tied to specific outcomes, can lead to attachment and thus, disappointment. Intents, on the other hand, are imbued with flexibility. They guide our path without binding us to a predetermined destination.
The Pitfalls of Rigid Goal Setting
When we become too attached to a specific outcome, we may inadvertently set ourselves up for failure. This fixation can lead to feelings of inadequacy when things don’t pan out as expected. But life, in its infinite wisdom and unpredictability, often has plans beyond our limited comprehension.
Embracing Change with Intent
Intents act as guiding stars, illuminating our path while allowing for deviations. They foster acceptance and teach us to find value in every outcome. This perspective shift helps us embrace change, recognizing that every twist and turn is a stepping stone to a broader understanding of our journey.
The Ever-Evolving Self
The concept of the ‘new you’ in every moment is a profound one. It speaks of the impermanence of our being and the constant state of flux we exist in. While goals are set by a past version of ourselves, our current self might have evolved beyond those aspirations, equipped with new insights and perspectives.
Surfing the Waves of Time
Life’s unpredictable nature can be likened to the waves of the ocean – sometimes calm, sometimes tumultuous. Just as a surfer doesn’t control the waves but learns to navigate them, we too must learn to ride the waves of life, adapting and evolving with each crest and trough.
Timelines and Passions
By focusing on intents, we free ourselves from the constraints of a single timeline. This flexibility allows us to pivot and adjust as we follow our passions, ensuring our journey is always aligned with our heart’s true calling.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
– Buddha
Waves of intent ripple through time,
Guiding our journey, a whimsical rhyme.
Goals may tether, bind us to the past,
But intents liberate, their magic vast.
In each fleeting moment, we’re reborn anew,
Embracing the dance, to our passions we stay true.
What insights and whimsiwords arise from our collective consciousness, fellow explorer of the cosmos?
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