Have you ever wondered why it is important to set goals for yourself? Many successful people practice this habit. They don’t just do it for the sake of doing it. They set goals to ensure they are progressing is moving in the right direction in a timely matter.
The biggest reason to set goals is to have a sense of direction for yourself. Everyday, you have something to work toward. It is much more rewarding knowing you are working for something versus just walking through life half asleep. It gets you going since it is your passion and your choice.
Goal setting also helps you to stay on track. Because you have a goal in mind, your daily decisions are much easier to make. Without them, there are so many distractions that can pull us in all sorts of directions. It is much easier to say yes to getting to the gym and working out and to say no to that extra hour of video games before going to bed. We are much more willing to stay discipline with our destination in mind.
There are three levels goal setting. Long-term goals is the first one you should start with. This will allow you to find a direction to go in. Without it, you will wander aimlessly and hope that something good happens. With a long-term goal, you can start to map out how you are going to get there. For example, if you want to be a Big Leaguer and you are in high school now, you know that you are going to have to put in the level of work that exceeds most ball players. You are going to have to have the right knowledge, tools, resources, and then some to help you get there, but this is the starting point.
Mid-term goals should follow long-term goals. Once you have your long-term vision such as becoming a big leaguer, you can find some mid points to hit between your current situation and the long-term goal. For the high schooler that wants to be a big leaguer, a good mid point would be to get a scholarship to play in college at a Division 1 or to get drafted in first 5 rounds out of high school. It is unrealistic to go from high school to the Big Leagues in one year so it good to break down the goal to find that midway point. It can be broken down into further mid-term goals as well.
Short-term goals or daily goals must be set to aim for your mid-term and long-term goals. Breaking them down into daily goals helps to keep your long-term goal attainable. Thinking you are just going to go from high school to the Big Leagues can be an overwhelming thought and it is possible for many doubts to creep in, but that is why setting these smaller goals helps. You are able to push yourself everyday and strive to get 1% better. 1% everyday adds up overtime and you will soon be on your way to becoming a Big Leaguer.
There are two things you should focus on when setting your goals:
1. How do you pick a good goal?
Picking a good goal for yourself, for many, will not happen over night. You must truly dive deep into yourself to find your passions and desires. A good goal is something that only you can come up with. Your parents, your significant other, your siblings, and your friends may know you very well, but only you know what you want and it should be your goal.
2. Your Passions and Desires
What do you really love to do? What do you really want in life? These are some deep questions and may require lots of thinking, but only when you know the answer to those questions will you start to find a good goal for yourself. It is crazy to see how many people are unhappy with what they are doing, only doing it because they have to. Also, many people are sleep walking through life and never truly live their passions. Everyone has passions and desires and knowing them will help you to create good goals for yourself so you can live a phenomenal lifestyle.
Goal setting is something everyone should get in the habit of doing. If you are doing it already, keep it up! If you are not, it is not to late to start. You are capable of anything you set your mind to.
