My Goal Is To Keep Things The Same. Is It A Valid Goal?

Have you heard about the concept of a maintenance goal?

Usually, when we set goals, we're looking to achieve something new, work towards something different, something better. Maintenance goals are about keeping what you already have because some things require upkeep.

Marriage is one example. If you stop courting each other because you have achieved the goal of marrying each other, it goes downhill from there. Been there, done that. 'Happily ever after' is not a one time achievement. The effort to reach happiness is also 'ever after'. You don't want to lose what you've already got because you're so focused on pursuing the next thing.

One of the maintenance goals we have is maintaining a loving family. Whatever 'next achievement' goal we have is checked against the maintenance goal. We ask ourselves: Does any action to achieve the 'next achievement goal' go against having a loving family? Is it aligned? If its not aligned in the short term and we are consciously ok about it, we can discuss what are some things we can do to keep up the maintenance goal.

Maintenance goal doesn't have to be about family. It can be to keep a certain income level or lifestyle or job or friendship/community. Setting a maintenance goal is a good way to ensure you don’t lose what you have while chasing what you don’t yet have. Its easy to take things for granted and use it as a lever to achieve the next thing.