Personally I think there is a time for both. My goals have changed through out the years and a lot depends what is happening on a bigger level at this point. Initially my goals were smaller, like stop getting caught with arm bars. I gladly accepted the choke if I avoided an arm bar because my goal was met. A lot of times my goals center around learning a new move or set of moves. I like to approach things as the attack and defense. The goal might be drilling it or hitting it live. Sometimes my goals are centered around teaching. Maybe there is something I'm not happy about and I want to improve my abilities.
On the other side being in the moment can be fun, and I think sometimes leads to creativity because you aren't limiting yourself. Sometimes the goal of a certain move limits us too much and I think for some people can cause burn out. The goal not being met may lead to unnecessary stress. I think being in the moment can be its own goal though.
Commented on What is your strategy on how you set ...
07 Oct 07:45
Patrick Morton what if we look at what Jesse said about being in the moment and goals another way? What if being in the moment while working on a goal helps you achieve that goal?
Sometimes we just can't quite reach our goal and feel stuck. Well what if, you were truly present during that training session and it allowed you to catch that one detail that was preventing you from reaching said goal. Now that obstacle becomes a goal to achieve along the way to the major goal. I don't think they really need to hinder each other, I think they will work together if you let them. It's all about perspective.