Setting meaningful goals and following them leads us to a fulfilling and happy way of life.
Being able to set significant goals and having the courage to achieve them is the key factor that makes us happy. The more inclined we are to follow our goals, the more likely we are to achieve personal and professional success.
According to research by psychologists, neuroscientists, and other scientists, setting goals makes us invest a lot of time and effort in our own development. And not only that… By achieving our goals, we perceive our dreams as something real and entirely achievable.
When we set a goal, whether it’s small or large, a part of our brain believes that the desired outcome is an essential part of our identity. Thus, we create the conditions that drive us to actively work towards achieving our goals.
What Does it Mean to Set Goals?
To understand what goals are, we need to learn to distinguish them from dreams and expectations.
A goal is essentially your main focus in the long-term future. Intentions, dreams, and expectations, on the other hand, fall under the umbrella of goals. They are the steps that help you achieve your goals. Your expectations, visions, and dreams are not your goals. If you want to learn a new language, that is your dream. If you envision yourself speaking several foreign languages fluently, that is your vision. If you believe you are capable of learning a new language, that is your expectation. But if you strive to make these visions, dreams, and expectations a reality, that is your goal.
Why Is Goal-Setting Important?
Did you know that people who have ambitious goals demonstrate better performance and results compared to those who do not set goals? Keep this in mind because setting goals is truly an integral part of anyone’s success.
But first, what is the definition of goal-setting?
The goals we set should meet several criteria:
– Specific – Have a clear and specific idea of what you want to achieve;
– Measurable – Be precise when it comes to your goal;
– Achievable – Assess the skills you have or lack; make a plan for the exact steps you need to take to achieve your goal;
– Realistic – Consider the resources you have and be realistic about the effort you are willing to put into this endeavor;
– Time-bound – Set a time limit to stay motivated (daily, weekly, or monthly goals).
Still wondering why goals are important? Below we have summarized the benefits of setting goals.
Goals Direct Our Focus
It’s hard to get to where you want to be in life if you don’t know what you’re striving for. Some people believe that avoiding goals leads to a more carefree life. Without goals, we lack direction and focus. Sure, you may avoid disappointment, but simply avoiding disappointment doesn’t necessarily mean you’re happy. Without goals, we waste our time, energy, and effort aimlessly. Yes, talent is important, but often your success depends much more on what you decide to do with that talent.
Your goals give you direction. This direction and purpose, which you create in your mind, will help you move forward toward your main life goals instead of just wandering aimlessly.
Goals Help You Avoid the “Shiny Object Syndrome”
„Shiny Object Syndrome“ is a condition in which we are always chasing the next big thing, constantly switching our goals based on what we find most fun and interesting at the moment, but never really giving ourselves time to achieve any of these goals. We get nowhere because we keep changing the direction we are moving in.
Your goals can help you create mental barriers that keep you focused on what you consider important and avoid the things that come second. When you outline significant goals for yourself, you are more capable of avoiding distractions that detract from achieving those goals.
Your goals act as subconscious barriers to anything that is less than your main priorities. This helps you reach your personal definition of success!
Even the Biggest Goals Can Become Easily Manageable Steps
Many of us have big hopes and dreams. This is one of the things that makes our lives exciting! But many of us never take the time to figure out how we can effectively get from point A to point B. So, unfortunately, we never fully achieve these goals…
Fortunately, setting goals helps us break down big daunting goals into smaller steps that lead to success. These small steps and more achievable goals will help us build momentum and encourage us to keep working towards the next phase of our big goal. They form the foundation from which we can start building the life we truly hope to live…
The easiest way to conquer a mountain peak is simply to start climbing, step by step!
Goals Encourage You to Take Action
Effective goal-setting not only helps you break down your larger goals into smaller, more manageable ones but also encourages you to start actually taking action towards achieving those goals. After all, a plan is entirely useless if you’re not willing to invest the necessary effort to execute it.
Goals give you something to work towards. Essentially, they help you keep moving forward.
Goal-Setting Helps You to Continuously Improve
What’s the point of your goals if you’re not improving in the areas where you want to develop? The goals you set for yourself will inevitably shape you into the person you want to become. They will shape your character. Your goals can help you measure your progress as you strive for this type of development.
Essentially, having goals helps you determine where you started, where you are now, and how much further you need to go. In this way, goal-setting can serve as a guide for your progress!
Goal-Setting Holds You Accountable
Goal-setting not only helps you measure your progress but also serves as a means through which you can hold yourself accountable. Too many goals fail because they lack this crucial aspect of outlining accountability.
Every goal you set should outline a deadline as well as the steps you will need to take to achieve it.
This plan will keep you accountable because if you fail to meet your progress schedule, you’ll know that you won’t achieve your goal on time. Additionally, it can serve as a marker to identify what is hindering your progress and help you make the necessary adjustments.
Goals Make You Feel Good
The progress you feel as you set and achieve goals can become super motivating and super addictive (in a good way)! The release of dopamine that we get from achieving our goals is like a small reward for our brain cells and motivates us to try to achieve the next goal!
Having clearly defined goals will help you feel happier, especially when you stick to these goals, actively work towards them, and ultimately achieve and even exceed your initial expectations.
Moreover, our goals give us an endpoint to aim for. Instead of progressing just for the sake of progress, you can actually see where you are headed! This is much more rewarding and exciting.
If you don’t know where you’re going, you risk the journey becoming tedious. It’s not much fun to wander around aimlessly. Goals make us feel good because they give us direction and motivation to keep moving forward.
How to Set Goals (The Core Principles)
The best way to ensure you achieve your goals is to set them in the right way.
Develop and Write Down Your Core Values
Your personal values or understanding of what you truly value are important elements in the process of setting your goals. What you value most is what structures your habits, intentions, dreams, and goals.
When you are not aligned with your core values, chances are you won’t be motivated to act towards achieving your goals.
And that means you’re more focused on things that aren’t as important to you. There are many examples of core values. Some of them are:
– Competence
– Determination
– Leadership
– Love
– Courage
There are two approaches: either clearly identify what your goals are and find the core values according to them, or discover your core values and set goals around them.
Use SMART Goals
Every goal you define should be SMART. This means your goals should meet specific criteria. They are:
– Specific
– Measurable
– Achievable
– Relevant
– Time-bound
In summary, your specific goals should be very well-defined. They shouldn’t be general, and every detail should be clarified.
If you want to start running, how often do you want to do it? How long will each session be? How long will this habit last?
There must be a connection between your goals and intentions for you to achieve the results you are striving for. Most importantly, be realistic!
Align Your Goals
Some studies suggest that people are more likely to achieve their intentions when they are aligned with their life’s main goal. Your life’s purpose is what motivates you to get out of bed each morning and gives you the meaning to continue on your path. If you haven’t yet defined your life’s purpose, then your first priority is to discover it.
Once you discover your purpose, align your intentions and dreams with it. Your personal, professional, financial, and family goals should stem from your main life goal. This process is similar to building a house. All the bricks are placed in position next to each other to reveal the beauty of the architectural masterpiece.
Prioritize Your Goals
The more goals you set, the more opportunities you have to stray from your path. No matter how important all your goals are, some of them take precedence. It’s important that you focus on the goals you set and on which you want to work.
One way to focus on the goals that matter to you is to make two lists. One list should contain your top five most important goals at this moment. The second list includes any other goals you may have or think of. The list with five or fewer goals is your „must-do“ list, while the other is the „avoid freely“ list.
Break Down Your Goal Into Stages
Achieving your goal will be much easier if you learn to focus on smaller parts of the goal rather than the goal itself. This means you can break your goals