Use the "R" in SMART goals to pick your goals.

SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. These five principles are extremely useful for shaping a goal. But what about for choosing goals in the first place?

I use the "R," relevance, as a guide. Relevance is leverage when it comes to achieving a goal — when what you're doing is relevant, already integrated into your day-to-day or important for your next steps, it begets motivation and momentum.

Here’s an example by contrast: I’d love to learn Chinese. I would love to travel to China and live in Chinese-speaking countries. This is somewhat relevant based on my desire, but it’s not as relevant as other goals of mine. Learning Chinese is a long-haul journey. I am certain that if I start now, only because I want to travel there for some weeks or months, I’ll reach a point in my learning journey where I ask myself: “What’s the point? Am I doing this just because I want to be able to travel around China more easily? I should just hire a tour guide.”

In another circumstance, I may be more motivated to learn Chinese. If my partner’s family is Chinese or if there’s a real possibility that we would move and live full-time in a Chinese-speaking country, the goal of learning that language would become much more relevant.

The relevance of goals came up for me recently in choosing to learn a new musical instrument. I am generally of the mind that choosing to learn multiple instruments dilutes focus — I prefer to focus on one or two instruments and become as proficient as possible in those. But I felt a calling to learn a percussion instrument. While not all callings need to be justified, I had to square away why I wanted to learn this instrument as the goal rubbed against my values for more singular focus.

I have long felt that learning percussion — whether drum kit or hand drums — would augment my skills as a musician. Better rhythm, better playing. That may be justification enough, but with a busy schedule, adding that goal only for “better musicianship” wasn’t quite enough to get me over the edge. I also felt a calling to connect with my Persian heritage. Here’s where relevance comes in. Knowing that I already had several callings — a desire to improve my Persian language skills, my understanding of Persian culture, my rhythmic aptitude, among others — the Tombak, a Persian percussion instrument, came to the forefront of my mind. Learning this instrument could be a gateway to pursuing multiple callings at once. My Persian heritage will be with me all my life and so will my music. Over time, learning this instrument could compound into deep fulfillment and unforeseen opportunities.

When the inevitable trough of despair comes on the learning journey — that period of discouragement at a plateau or difficult moment — the relevance of the goal comes to the rescue. The instrument is at the intersection of my personal, musical, and cultural values. It is highly relevant and will likely be so for the rest of my life.

Often the biggest challenge is sticking through the whole journey. Use relevance to steel your steadfastness. Next time you think of what goal to choose or how to motivate yourself in a calling, ask yourself: What makes your goal relevant? What can keep you on your journey for the long haul?