"Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals," said Aristotle. Striving to reach goals is an inherent part of being human. The Etymology of the word "goal" is from the Middle English "gol," meaning boundary or limit. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines "goal," in the sense of goal-setting, as "the end toward which effort is directed; aim." According to the "Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology," "goal setting is a cognitive theory of motivation based on the premise that people have needs that can be thought of as specific outcomes they hope to obtain." These goals largely direct and sustain a person's actions.
Goals Should Be Realistic and Measurable
To get the most out of goal setting, Encyclopedia.com offers the following tips: Goals ought to be both challenging and realistic. When setting goals, make them as specific as possible. Finally, goals should be measurable.
Building on Success
The process of setting long- and short-term goals is a way of deciding what is important to achieve in life. During the process, what is not important or irrelevant becomes apparent. Goal-setting can be a great motivator. When goals are achieved there is often a sense of accomplishment and success. Use this new confidence to build other goals and dreams, MindTools.com suggests.
Creating a Framework
Goal setting is used in athletics, business and education. It is used within families and for personal goals that others may not even know about. Goals "give you long-term vision and short-term motivation," MindTools states. Some of the other benefits of goal-setting include creating a framework to order life and making the most of resources and knowledge.
The Big Picture
It is helpful to create a "big picture" goal and then break that down into small, achievable bits. Once you have a written plan with achievable goals broken down into "mini-goals" or steps, start working toward the first one. But remember: Things in life can change quickly, so it is helpful to be flexible just in case parts of the overall goal need to be amended.
Motivation
There must be a true burning desire for the goal in order to achieve it. Write down all of the advantages of achieving the goal; this should increase your desire and motivation. Attach deadlines to goals whenever possible. Identify possible obstacles that may get in the way of achieving the goal. Make a clear list of resources you will need to overcome each obstacle.
Tenacity
It is also helpful to picture yourself achieving the goal. It is motivating to see yourself in your mind's eye with all of the benefits of the goal. Visualize your success, and encourage yourself not to give up--even if there are pitfalls along the way.
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