Goal Keeper: success made simple – The Resilience Institute

Nature as Goal Keeper

Through evolution, survival kept us honest. If you did not get up early and seek food, you starved. If you did not pay attention you became food. When you did not take care of others in need, you suffered alone. The hustle and bustle of living kept us lean, fit, alert and connected through the day. At night, we collapsed into deep slumber undisturbed by screens, beeps, lights and sirens.

Sounds perfectly beastly. But at least I would be thin, fit, loved and rested. Nature was our Goal keeper.

Today, glued to screens and carefully dispensed dopamine surges, we spend far more time in a virtual world rather than in the real world. We have traded nature, conversation, movement and nurture for gluttony, independence, sloth and loneliness. Rather than padding through the bush with our friends, we type, prod, swipe and click the day away. We can outsource the shopping, children, parents, pets, cleaning….

Sounds wonderful. But I am fat, lazy, lonely and exhausted.

Nature was our goalkeeper for the most of the 70,000 years of homo sapiens’ ascendency. Most certainly for the species before us. Play by the basic rules of nature and humans have flourished. We became fit, strong, connected, smarter and agile becoming the dominant species of our time.

Busyness as Goal Keeper

Since 1500 the game has changed dramatically (please read Sapiens, 2015 by Noah Yuval Harari). Humans are far more numerous (14 x), prosperous (240 x) and energy consuming (115 x). We have conquered and exploited the planet. But we are not happier, nor healthier.

We are fat, lazy, exhausted, alienated, anxious and depressed. We are devolving into slaves to dopamine hits. Consumption is our Goalkeeper.

Secret of Success

So how do those thriving and riding the wave of modernity succeed? They have learned to build a daily discipline. They wake early, stretch, exercise, eat well, meditate, connect and seek flow. Like our ancestors they are thin, fit, loved and rested. Most are very wealthy as well.

They have learned to create movement towards fulfilling, long term goals. Many use coaches. Some use their trackers. The principal is Nudge (Thaler and Sunstein, 2008). Little steps every day lead to transformation. Today, we have to learn how to be our own GoalKeeper.

Our Christmas gift to you is complimentary access to our new Goal Keeper. Available on the app stores, Goal Keeper lets you quickly and effortlessly set, track and monitor the daily disciplines that will move you to your goals. Set one simple goal or define a program for the next six weeks and Goalkeeper will help you create momentum.