Kedging: A Sailor's Secret to Achieving Your Goals
View over the bow of a sailboat into the distance in the direction the boat is headed.
Lemme tell you a story. After over 24 years of marriage to a sailor, I've picked up more nautical lingo than I ever thought possible. (BTW, I love lingo!) Yet, put me on a boat, and I'm still hopelessly inept. In any case, it turns out that all these years of listening to sailor-speak weren't in vain. There's a nautical concept that might just be the key to actually sticking to our intentions: “kedging.”
What on Earth is Kedging?
Kedging isn't just another buzzword in the self-help world. It's a real nautical term with a powerful metaphorical punch. In sailing, kedging refers to the practice of moving a ship by dropping a small anchor (called a kedge) at a distance and then pulling the ship towards it. Imagine using this concept for your personal goals – setting an anchor point in your future and steadily pulling yourself towards it. Oooh, do I have your attention?
The Kedging Approach to Goals
The idea of applying this nautical strategy to our personal goals is simple yet profound: set a lofty, almost audacious goal – your "kedge" – and watch how it motivates you to tackle the daily actions needed to reach it.
Here's how it works:
Choose Your Kedge: Pick a goal that genuinely excites you. It should be challenging enough to make you a bit nervous but not so far-fetched that it feels impossible.
Drop Anchor: Commit to your kedge. This might mean signing up for an event, putting money down, or making a public declaration.
Pull Yourself Forward: Break down your big goal into smaller, daily tasks. These are the rope pulls that slowly but surely move you towards your kedge.
Adjust Course as Needed: Just like in sailing, you might need to tack and jibe (told you, I love lingo!) as you go. Be flexible but keep your eye on that kedge.
Kedging in Action
A personal example of how I'm applying kedging to my own life: Recently, due to some injuries and medication, I put on about 25 pounds that I really want to shed. It would be easy to make a vague resolution to "lose weight," but I know from experience that's not enough to keep me motivated.
Instead, I've chosen a powerful kedge: our daughter's college graduation in May. This isn't just any event; it's a milestone celebration where I'll be seeing family, and friends, and taking lots of photos. The thought of feeling confident and healthy on this important occasion is incredibly motivating.
This kedge gives me a clear timeline and a meaningful reason to stay committed to my goals. Now, each workout and meal choice is a step that brings me closer to that proud moment when I'll watch our daughter receive her diploma, feeling my best inside and out. I’m 14 lbs. down as I type this . . . . Eyes on that kedge!
Why Kedging Works
The beauty of kedging is that it taps into our natural desire for excitement and challenge. It's the difference between trudging through daily tasks because you think you should, and tackling them with gusto because they're stepping stones to something truly thrilling.
Moreover, kedging gives you a clear direction. Just like a sailor can see the kedge anchor bobbing in the distance, you have a vivid image of your end goal to focus on when motivation wanes.
Setting Sail on Your Intentions
I invite you to try the kedging approach. Set your sights on something that truly excites you (NB, this does not have to be health-related!), drop that anchor, and start pulling. Who knows? By this time next year, you might find yourself having achieved something you once thought impossible.
So, what's your kedge going to be? Whatever it is, I wish you fair winds and following seas on your journey. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a walking date with my pup. One of my little “pulls” toward my personal kedge is 8K steps/day minimum. There's a graduation on the horizon, and this kedge isn't going to pull itself!
