The premise of realistic goals not only matters but can be life changing! Mastery goals are those set to accomplish or master something strictly controlled by you and in are sync with the effort put forth. Performance goals are those goals wherein an individual sets out to do or be better than his or her peers! No matter the goal, the bottom line and most simple definition is realistically establishing where we are and where we want to be!
Secondarily, and the establishment, the ultimate vehicle to a favorable end result is the plan to get us to where we want to be! Only those goals and plans set and established with clarity eliminating the confusion when goals and plans are too generic. Both goals and plans must be unequivocally stated and communicated to the support of others (if needed) and the motivation factor of the principal goal setter. Many goals set hastily without total cognition and total mindfulness fail from the onset and cause discouragement or possibly added stress.
For the sake of this piece, I will expound on those goals that have a long-term effect on one’s life and the lives of others. “Thomas Edison once said many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up!” Setting large leap goals, for example, “I will strive to be a better person,“ it is best to set goals that lead to improvement due to slowly and slightly adjusting our normal everyday habits and behaviors. Some examples are:
I need to stretch each day is a broad undefined goal! A better behavior adjustment that will facilitate the achievement of the goal is “I will awaken half an hour earlier each day and spend the added time to my days by doing stretching exercises. I will Google what stretching exercises I will perform to achieve full body benefits!
Another example of a broad undefined goal is I need to lose 10 pounds! A better behavior and habit adjustment that will help me to achieve that goal is “I will lose 10 pounds over 60 days by eliminating my drinking a 16 ounce coke daily, and my snacking between meals, also exercising with weight bearing exercises I replicate as seen on the fitness channel.”
These two examples are examples of goals when achieved will have a positive effect on your health and positive outlook, not only when achieved, but ideally will become habitual having a positive affect long term on your life and lifestyle.
Albert Einstein was quoted saying “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to other people or things, but to your personal welfare!”
One secret to achieving your goals is realizing that the real joy comes from the progress you make along the way! Regarding the goal of a 10-pound weight loss is to celebrate you and your personal success as you lose 2, 4, 6 and 8 pounds not only when you achieve the final goal of a 10 pound loss!
An example of a “mastery goal” that is a “journey” focusing on the well being of others and collectively having a positive effect of the individual setting forth the goals, and reflects the kindness, love for others, spirituality and persona of the self worth of the goal setter follows:
I have many elderly housebound friends that may need help with day-to-day needs, or simply keeping them company from time to time. My goal is a contact weekly to the three households selected and visiting at least once every two weeks. Sticking with your life achievements of kindness, and spiritual beliefs is a reflection and representation of your personal tenacity, discipline and fortitude to keep going, never looking back and ultimately improving you by dedication to the well being of others!
In closing I share a quote by Matt Fox, “The only goals you don’t achieve are the goals you don’t set!”
