When you’re young and optimistic, you often feel everything is equally interesting and promising, hence you’d ideally want to pursue everything. This however is not the challenge. For many, the problem is that you want to do it all at once.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if I got great at 5 things in the next 6 months?”
This always reminds me of the Buridan’s Ass paradox. The story goes like this:
An ass is equally hungry and thirsty. It is standing halfway between a pile of hay and a bucket of water. The ass being completely rational with no specific preference on which one to go for first, eventually dies of thirst and hunger. The ass dies because it can’t decide and ends up not choosing either.
The story is an example of the fact that trying to do everything at once can be overwhelming, and can actually prevent us from achieving our goals.
You can do pretty much everything you want, except not all at the same time.
When we have too many options, it can be difficult to make a decision, and we can end up being paralyzed by indecision. Instead, it is important to prioritize and focus on one thing at a time. By doing this, you can avoid decision paralysis and make progress towards one goal.
Sequentially tackling your goals allows you to break them down into manageable steps, and helps you avoid being overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available.
Of course, this is not to say that you should not be ambitious and pursue your dreams. Rather, it is a reminder that success often comes through focus and dedication, rather than trying to do everything at once. By being mindful of your goals and taking things one step at a time, you can achieve great things and live a fulfilling life.