Planning Goals in a World That Refuses to Stick to the Script

They say “Man plans, God laughs” — and I suspect God sometimes chuckles so hard, He drops His pen. Because truly, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But that’s exactly why we need to plan — not because we can predict the future, but because without direction, we might end up binge-watching sitcoms and calling that “personal growth.”

I like to divide my goals into two types: the big picture ones (long-term) and the everyday hustle ones (short-term). Think of it like driving with a GPS — the long-term goal is your destination, the short-term goals are the turns you take along the way. Without both, you’ll either be lost… or worse, in the wrong city.

For example, let’s talk about writing a blog — a goal that sounds exciting on day one and mysteriously drifts into “I’ll do it next week” territory by day ten. My long-term goal: create a blog that inspires, entertains, and keeps readers coming back. My short-term goals: write for 20 minutes a day (even if it’s just a paragraph), brainstorm topics every Sunday with a cup of chai, and resist the urge to spend three hours picking the perfect font instead of actually writing.

“The key to success is consistency, not perfection” — a reminder I scribble in my planner next to the day I inevitably skip writing because the couch and I were having an intense relationship. Missing one day is human. Giving up because of one missed day? That’s tragedy wrapped in procrastination.

I also plan monthly check-ins — not just to track my progress, but to celebrate small wins. Posted two blogs this month? That’s great. Managed to post one despite a hectic work schedule, a sick child, and a Wi-Fi outage? That’s legendary.

The beauty of planning is that even if life decides to toss a plot twist your way, you can adjust without abandoning ship. Your goals are like a lighthouse — they don’t change, even when the waves do.

“Goals are dreams with deadlines” — and if we don’t set those deadlines, our dreams might just grow old waiting for us.

Thought to ponder:
Life may not follow our script, but without a script, we’re just improvising in a play we never rehearsed. So plan — not because tomorrow is certain, but because you deserve a direction today.