"Oublier son objectif est la forme la plus courante de stupidité"

Losing sight of what you set out to do is one of the easiest ways to end up feeling confused and directionless. Think about it. The core idea here is simple: if you don’t keep your original goals in mind, you’re likely to waste your time and miss out on achieving what truly matters to you. It’s like setting off on a road trip without a destination. You might enjoy the drive for a while, but eventually, you’ll wonder where you’re supposed to be heading.

Historically, this idea has been echoed in many philosophies and teachings. For example, ancient Stoics like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius often talked about the importance of focusing on what’s truly important in life. They believed that understanding your purpose and acting in accordance with it was key to living a fulfilling life. This notion isn’t just some old-school philosophy, though. It’s relevant now more than ever.

Imagine you’re working on a big project at your job. You start off with a clear vision of what you want to achieve. But then, distractions start piling up—emails, meetings, sudden requests from your boss. Before you know it, you’re bogged down with side tasks that don’t really contribute to your main goal. You’re busy, sure, but at the end of the day, you haven’t moved any closer to completing what you initially set out to do. That’s the kind of “stupidity” the quote is talking about—it’s not about lack of intelligence, but about losing focus and direction.

So how do you keep your purpose front and center? Here’s a piece of advice: make a habit of regularly checking in with yourself. Set aside some time each week to reflect on your goals. Ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing today getting me closer to where I want to be?” If the answer is no, it’s time to recalibrate. Use tools like to-do lists, vision boards, or even daily journaling to keep your priorities in check. It might sound simple, but these small practices can make a huge difference.

Now, let me paint you a picture. Picture Sarah, a friend of mine who’s a graphic designer. She’s passionate about creating art that makes people think. She started her own business with the goal of producing meaningful work. But as her business grew, she took on more and more clients, many of whom just wanted generic designs. She was making money, but she felt unfulfilled. One day, she realized she had forgotten her original purpose. She was just churning out work without any real passion behind it.

So, Sarah decided to make a change. She went back to her roots, started picking clients more selectively, and focused on projects that aligned with her vision. It wasn’t an easy transition—she lost some income at first—but eventually, she felt more satisfied and fulfilled. Her business even started to thrive again because she was producing work that truly resonated with people.

We’ve all been there in some way, right? Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a personal project, it’s so easy to get sidetracked. But by staying true to your purpose and regularly reminding yourself of it, you can navigate those distractions and stay on course. So, the next time you find yourself buried in the busyness of life, take a moment to remember what you’re truly aiming for. It might just be the smartest thing you do.