You’re familiar with the idea of setting a goal; to an extent we all are. We have New Years’ resolutions, health goals, academic goals, and career goals. We have a firm grasp on the concept.
For the vast majority of us though, the point of goal setting isn’t goal-setting in and of itself, it’s what the goal gets us; this makes total sense; you set a goal with the hope of achieving it.
But what if there were other reasons that made goal-setting worthwhile?
Setting goals requires us to really think about what’s important to us. Who or what do we want to be? What do we want to be able to do? Why? Why is becoming or achieving that specific thing so important? This introspection is key in our discovery of who we are and what we place our value and worth upon.
Once we’ve identified the things that truly matter, we can start creating a path toward them. You know what you want to achieve, but this is where you work out how you can make it happen. The key here is finding the connection between how everything you do builds toward something. How can you, in some small way, each day or week or month, bring yourself closer to your goal? It’s very important to be honest about potential obstacles too. What could stand in your way? What do you think will be most difficult in the journey towards your goal? When you give forethought to some of your concerns, it helps you to prepare for them emotionally and practically.
Achieving the goal is the very last thing we do. Have we made it to the goal? If yes, we get the thing we were working towards; if no, then we have a new opportunity to reevaluate: do we choose to persevere? Do we set a different goal?
Overall, goal-setting is a way in which we are able to see who and where we want to be; and through the process of setting a goal, moving towards it, and achieving it, we develop a better sense of direction for our lives.
It’s true of health too.
Think about it: what is most important to you in terms of your health and wellbeing? Evaluate why it’s so important; what will it make possible that wasn’t possible before? how will it change your life? When you’re set on your goal, make a plan towards it, including one that accounts for difficulties and potential obstacles along the way; don’t rush this process, it’s an important part of goal-setting! And finally, go for it! If you manage to achieve the goal you set, celebrate it! And if you didn’t, reevaluate the process. Figure out what did and didn’t work, and think about whether or not you need to change the goal itself. Failure to achieve a goal isn’t failure, failure to learn from it is.
What health goals are you working towards? How has setting health goals helped you?
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