Choosing Life Goals

Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger had posed this wisdom: "If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable." Essentially, it is hard to see progress if you don’t have any goals. Therapy will often ask about what one actually wants, because that’s how we see whether or not we are moving in that direction. It’s okay to not always know, or to want to change course every now or then, but if we never choose a destination, then life just feels like we are drifting aimlessly out at sea. That might sound peaceful for some people (I think of those mindfulness gurus, who simply take pleasure in the day-to-day existence; good for them, but many of us are not going to get there), but for most, that would sound terrifying, and would invite worry, helplessness, and an absence of hope. Having a goal and seeing movement towards it helps to ground us and reminds us that we are steering the ships of our own lives.

"If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable."

~ Seneca the Younger