Do you feel you are working hard, but don't seem to get where you want to be in life?
Have you had periods of feeling stressed and overwhelmed?
A key reason you may feel this way is that you haven't had the opportunity to ask yourself what you want from life and set formal goals. After all, would you set out on a journey with no actual idea of your destination? Probably not! This was me; I never had formally thought about what I wanted. I can say I knew what I didn’t want. I joined a goals club, and it all changed from there. I continue to set goals every month and share the power of goal setting with others.
Here are 3 interesting facts I love about goal setting:
1. The first is from Maxwell Maltz, from his book Psycho-Cybernetics.
“Creative striving for a goal that is important to you as a result of your own deep-felt needs, aspirations, and talents (and not the symbols which the ‘Joneses’ expect you to display) brings happiness as well as a success because you will be functioning as you were meant to function. People by nature are goal-striving beings. And because they are ‘built that way’ we are not happy unless we are functioning the way we were made to function—as a goal-striver. Thus, true success and true happiness not only go together but each enhances the other.”
Humans survived in our early days as they were ‘goal-striving’. Goal striving to gather food, build a shelter, etc.
2. Two of the 5 building blocks to achieving happiness and wellbeing in positive psychologist Martin Seligman's PERMA model are E (Engagement or flow) and A (achievement). These are both present and related to goal setting.
3. Goal setting applies to the science of hope. Rick Snyder the founder of research into the science of hope tells us it starts with a Goal. Happy people have projects. And happy, hopeful people have GOALS! They have a future they’re excited about.
Here are the benefits I have witnessed for setting goals.
It gives you meaning in life; you take action, and your achieving - In our goals club our program worked around designing your dreams goals (Big G). We then designed our 1-year goals. Every month we then set goals (Little G). We held each other accountable and incorporated learnings from reflecting on the month that passed. Research from Dr. Gail Matthews, a clinical psychologist showed that those who write their goals and share their goals, as well as send weekly updates, we're on average 33% more successful in accomplishing their stated goals.
Goal setting is also an important part of mental health – I watched individuals in my goals club become happier as they were getting back to doing things in their lives which gave them joy and increased their confidence. Goals help you reveal your values and your strengths so you can live in accordance with them. I believe anxiety or a feeling of uneasiness can come about when we are not living in accordance with our values.
Seeing your progress is addicting. - because of the dopamine released in your brain after attaining the reward of achieving your goal. I have seen people gain momentum and small goals build to bigger and bigger goals. Just as a snowball grows in size as it’s rolled down a hill, momentum works the same way.
Spend time with like-minded individuals who encourage you. As you set goals, it can lead you to other like-minded individuals on the same journey. Humans have 3 fundamental needs, love, growth, and contribution. These needs are all met when setting goals.
Having relationships where you can reach out to different friends brings love and the happy hormone, Oxytocin.
Growth comes about by setting goals. You are continually learning which produces dopamine. Dopamine is the motivation molecule that drives you to seek rewards for achieving goals. Contributing to others is showing them support, encouragement, and sharing suggestions to achieve their goals when faced with obstacles. Contribution produces the serotonin drug.
Two Tips and a question to end on.
One is to start small, what is one small goal that you could accomplish today or this week? Do it. Take action, make the call, book it in your diary, whatever it may be.
Second, how is that goal aligned to your values? Values are things that matter to you - qualities you already have (or aspire to have) the type of person you want to be. For example, I will drink a litre of water today, as I value a healthy body/skin.
Email me your goal with the date you will take action. If you permit me, I will send you a follow-up email to support your accountability.
Take some time now to think about what benefits you would gain from goal setting?
Take care
Dea
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