Leading Thoughts for May 21, 2026

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with:

I.

Brad Stulberg on goals:

“Goals are like mountaintops. They are important insofar as they provide definition and direction for our journeys. They serve as targets, offering a wellspring of motivation. They keep us focused and prevent us from aimlessly wandering. Yet nearly all of our growth, development, and meaning occur not at the point of accomplishing a goal but during its pursuit. There is no greater illusion than thinking the accomplishment of some goal will change your life. What will change your life is how you are transformed in the process of going for it. When you select what goals to pursue, you are selecting what kind of person you want to become.”

Source: The Way of Excellence: A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World

II.

Anne Lamott on forging ahead:

“There are parts of your life you keep placing just out of reach because they feel inconvenient, unclear, or not quite ready yet. So you wait for the right stretch of time, the right version of yourself, or the right set of circumstances that will finally make it all make sense. But life doesn’t rearrange itself for clarity. It responds to movement. The thing you keep circling might not need more thinking. It might need a first step. What you are waiting for may be created by the act of beginning.”

Source: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

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Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index.

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Posted by Michael McKinney at 06:14 PM
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