Do you set goals for yourself?

Do you set goals for yourself? What are your goals for the next year? How about three years? Five years? Ten years? What are your aspirations in life? Setting goals is the first step toward your success. 

Having goals for things we want to do and working towards them is an important part of being human. The path we choose may not always be easy or go as planned, but having goals is part of what makes life good. It gives us a sense of meaning and purpose.  It points us to where we want to go, which is good for our overall happiness.

Below are just a few reasons why you need to have goals:

~ To give focus and direction to life

~ To make sure we are the one choosing the direction of our life – not others, not fate, not the media, etc.

~ To motivate

~ To make sure we get what we want from life

~ To save time

~ To reduce stress

~ To give a sense of accomplishment

 

While goals certainly give our lives direction, they also provide the motivation to get us through difficult times and choices. Perhaps going to college at night while working full-time may be stressful and difficult in the short-term.  However, in the long run, being able to pursue the professional goals we desire will make it worthwhile.

It is often easy to let others set our direction for us. We take a job because family or friends point us in that direction and then we follow the dictates of our bosses. We move in other directions because popular culture or the media tells us to do so. The simple truth is that if we do not set our own goals, then we will find it too easy to follow a path set by others. This can lead to stress and unhappiness. We have a greater chance of happiness and fulfillment following our own path and pursuing our own goals.

When you set goals, you connect yourself with your deepest desires. They help to motivate you and give you something to strive for. For some people, goals are measured in money or material goods…while for others goals are measured in time or freedom. If we do not have goals outlined that suit our unique perspective on life, it is easy to become sidetracked by life and others. 

Goals can also help save time. When your “To Do” list becomes too long and your calendar too full, then you can simply compare your goals to the list. What items will help you achieve your goal? What items are necessary for your goal? Scratch off the rest as unimportant.

Just as goals save time they can also reduce stress because using your goals to focus your life and choices makes it easier to make those choices. Should you take that new position at work? How does it match your goals?

Finally, goals give you a measurable sense of accomplishment. Every goal you achieve, in fact, every step you take toward that goal, can give you a boost of energy and momentum to keep going. Each success powers you toward the next level of success.

If finding your happiness is one of your goals, I have this post and this post one that show you different steps to help you on your journey.

I would love to know if you set goals for yourself and if you met them?  How do you set your goals, do you track them with a planner or a computer?

Now go out and set your goals!