"自分の行動に合わせて目標を変えるか、目標に合わせて行動を変えるかのどちらかです。"

At the heart of this quote is the idea that there's a fundamental choice we all face when there's a disconnect between what we do and what we want. If your actions don't line up with your goals, something's got to give. You either need to adjust your goals to be more in line with what you're actually doing or change your behavior to better align with your goals. It's about consistency and alignment.

This concept isn't new. Throughout history, people have grappled with the challenge of aligning their actions with their ambitions. Imagine an explorer in the age of discovery who dreams of finding new lands. If they spend all their time sitting around in a tavern talking about exploration but never actually set sail, they’re not going to get anywhere. They’d either need to get out there and start the journey or change their goal to something that matches their current behavior—perhaps becoming a storyteller about other people's adventures.

Let’s bring this idea into a real-life scenario: Think about someone who wants to run a marathon. Say their goal is to complete a marathon in under four hours. Sounds great, right? But if this person isn’t getting off the couch and training regularly, there's a gap between their goal and their behavior. They can either adjust their goal—maybe shoot for a shorter race first, like a 10K—or they can start training more seriously.

To make such adjustments, first, be brutally honest with yourself. Are you doing the things that will lead you to your goal? If not, why not? Sometimes, our goals are unrealistic given our current circumstances or efforts. It’s okay to scale back and set more achievable targets. Alternatively, if the goal is truly important to you, it's time to step up. Start small—maybe commit to running three times a week, gradually increasing your distance. The key is consistency.

Let’s dive into a more relatable story. Picture a college student, Sarah, who dreams of graduating with honors. She imagines the pride she’ll feel, the opportunities it will unlock. But here’s the thing—Sarah spends more time binge-watching TV shows than hitting the books. At the end of the semester, her grades aren’t reflecting her ambitions. Sarah’s at a crossroads. She can either adjust her goal to something more in line with her current study habits—maybe aiming for solid B’s instead—or she can change her behavior.

Sarah decides to change her behavior. She starts setting small, manageable study goals: one hour of focused study each evening. She creates a study group with friends, making learning more engaging. Slowly but surely, her grades improve. By the end of the year, she’s on track for honors.

What’s the takeaway here? If you’ve got big dreams, you need to back them up with actions. And if your actions don’t match up, either change your behavior or adjust your goals. It’s about finding harmony between what you want and what you do. So next time you’re feeling stuck or frustrated, take a step back. Are your goals and behaviors in sync? If not, it’s time for a change.