By Remez Sasson
It is important to have goals in your life. Coaches, motivators, and authors tell you that you have to set goals. There is a lot of talking about goals.
Are goals really so important?
Goals are important in the sense that they give you direction in life. The goal itself might be not so important, and when you achieve it, you might find that it doesn’t give you the satisfaction you expected.
Having more money and more possessions makes your life more comfortable, but this does not necessarily make you happier or more content.
However, having goals is like having a map. You know where you are heading, and this gives you zest, motivation and more energy. You become more alive.
Do you have goals? I don’t mean wishes. A real goal is not a wish. It is something, into which you will put all your efforts to achieve.
A goal does not have to be something big. Not everyone wants to achieve something big, on a major scale. Most people are satisfied with mediocre life, and that’s okay. But even if you don’t aim high, it’s good to have goals.
Goals don’t have to be major goals. Only a certain percentage of the population is really interested in major goals and is willing to do something to achieve them.
A goal could be becoming a millionaire, owning a chain store, or become a famous actor or singer. However, most goals are not on such a scale. Most goals are:
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Finding a new job.
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Earning enough money to support your family.
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Buying a pair of trousers.
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Buying a new laptop.
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Finding the time to meditate every day.
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Learning a foreign language.
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Losing a few pounds of weight.
- Going to a movie on a certain day.
You might not call them goals, but they are goals. These, and similar goals are what most people set to achieve.
Of course, you might seek greater aims, and that’s okay.
Why setting goals is important?
Goals set a direction
When you have a direction, there are less stress and strain in your life, because you know where you are going. It’s like having a map showing you the direction. You don’t waste time going in circles and arriving nowhere.
Goals motivate and make life more interesting
Having a goal, you feel that you are moving toward something, and this makes you feel happier, safer, stronger and more confident.
Goals help you focus
When you have a goal, you focus your attention on a target, and you don’t waste your time and energy on everything that comes your way. Without a goal, you start something and then move to another thing, never accomplishing anything worthwhile.
It means not being Jack of all trades and the master on none.
Setting a goal is like having a road map
An airplane has a set route it has to follow, in order to arrive at its destination. So does a ship. Wind and weather conditions can affect the airplane’s and ship’s courses. However, knowing the exact destination enables the pilot and the captain to make the proper adjustments. So it is with personal goals.
With a clear-cut goal, you know where you are heading, and can always correct your course.
Setting a goal is like having a map with a clear route to your destination. You know where you are, and where you are going.
Setting goals creates hope and confidence
There are hope, inner peace and confidence when you set a goal. It is like putting a torch that sheds light on your path, which helps you go in a straight line, instead of going in circles.
The journey is no less important than the goal
Enjoy the journey toward your goal. The goal is important, but the route is not less important. On the route, you learn things, get experience, interact with people and get stronger.
It is like traveling by train to a certain destination. You can be nervous, keep looking at your watch, waiting to arrive at your destination, and you can enjoy the journey, look at the scenery, read a book, or even make friends with the people traveling with you.
After achieving a goal you feel the happiness of achievement, but soon this feeling disappears, making place for a new goal. You will have more happiness and more satisfaction if you enjoy the road, not just wait to arrive at your destination.
The goal sets the direction, but you should enjoy all the steps leading to the goal, all the creative thinking, the action and the rewards. The journey might be long, and the actual moment of arriving short. So, why not enjoy the journey, instead of waiting impatiently to arrive at your destination – goal?
Want to learn how to achieve goals? Read Visualize and Achieve!
Remez Sasson is an author and blogger. He is the founder of SuccessConsciousness.com, a website and blog about self improvement and spiritual growth.
Remez Sasson is the author of several life transforming books, containing a wealth of information, advice and guidance.
I enjoyed reading your article. For sure it gives us a direction in life to have goals, but in a turbulent world it seems the goal posts keep moving all the same a useful reminder. Thanks for the help
NO GOALS NO GAME
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
- Jimmy Dean
“If you don’t know where you are going. How can you expect to get there?”
– Basil S. Walsh
“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”
- Helen Kelle
So goals are indeed holds prime importance to live a true life, because true goals will
keep you moving during difficult situations
Goals, since they are achievable and measurable will give you a sense of accomplishment that will keep you motivated,
That is the power of goal setting.
But other wise
If you do not set your own goals that are focused at fulfilling your dreams, you will be pushed around by people and circumstances to such an extent that you will completely loose the command on your own life.
It is painful to see so many people in rut simply because they never set any goals for themselves.
Peace and happiness are already we have in our heart and mind if our view of positive go on right path by the help of our knowledge.
True happiness comes to those who live at peace with their follow beings.The aim of all should be to learn peace and live peacefully with all men.
Nice post! I really like that you pointed out the fact that the journey is no less important than the goal. It gets easy to get caught up in the what we are trying to achieve and forget that life really is about the journey. Everything is a means to and end. We can’t forget that. And celebrating our successes along the way is important! Thanks again.