Setting Goals - Yug Bhansali, IBDP Grade XI
“If you don’t have a goal in life, you are spending your life running around and not achieving anything for yourself”-Bill Copeland. We often have the illusion that we’re doing a lot of things in our day: studying, playing, eating, socialising etc., but what we don’t realise is that it’s all a mirage. We’re busy fulfilling everyone else’s goals. For example, enjoying McDonalds’ food with our friends or buying the latest Nike products because they have convinced us that we need it is accomplishing the respective entrepreneurs’ goals. How are we supposed to manifest what we want, if we don’t set concrete goals? Goals give you clarity on what you ultimately want and it ensures that you are channelling your time, energy and effort into things that actually matter to you. Everything in the world is created twice- first in the mind and then manifestation in reality. Setting your goals is half the battle won.
Your goals are the representation of your inner desires therefore you are most connected with your source of motivation when you set goals. They are the fuel which drive you forward and keep you going when it gets tough and it gives you a single focal point to direct your attention towards. Think of your time, energy and efforts as input and results as output. A goal acts like a funnel which guides and channels those inputs effectively into your desired outputs.
Rather than talking about what you want all the time and not do anything concrete about it, writing down goals make you obligated to take action and makes you accountable for failure to take those actions. If you fall astray, your goals will help you get back on track and focus on what is necessary. Another important benefit of goal setting is that they help you achieve your highest potential. By setting goals, you set targets to strive against. These targets make you venture into new places, new contexts and new situations which mature you put you into growth mode. They make you stretch beyond your normal self and make you reach new heights while uncovering potential you never knew existed before.For example, setting time limits for your runsallow to judge whether you should be running faster and you will try to put in a lot of hard work the accomplish the time you have set for yourself.
Your goals are the representation of your inner desires therefore you are most connected with your source of motivation when you set goals. They are the fuel which drive you forward and keep you going when it gets tough and it gives you a single focal point to direct your attention towards. Think of your time, energy and efforts as input and results as output. A goal acts like a funnel which guides and channels those inputs effectively into your desired outputs.
Rather than talking about what you want all the time and not do anything concrete about it, writing down goals make you obligated to take action and makes you accountable for failure to take those actions. If you fall astray, your goals will help you get back on track and focus on what is necessary. Another important benefit of goal setting is that they help you achieve your highest potential. By setting goals, you set targets to strive against. These targets make you venture into new places, new contexts and new situations which mature you put you into growth mode. They make you stretch beyond your normal self and make you reach new heights while uncovering potential you never knew existed before.For example, setting time limits for your runsallow to judge whether you should be running faster and you will try to put in a lot of hard work the accomplish the time you have set for yourself.
The goals you set should be SMART-Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. They should be concise and to the point since there is a greater chance of accomplishing specific goals than generic ones. Furthermore, the goals should be measurable, which means if possible, they should be quantified since quantified goals give you a finish line. For example a goal stating: ‘My aim is to lose 5 kg by the end of the month’ is much more pragmatic than ‘My aim is to get thinner’. Moreover your goal should be attainable and something within your reach. The goal must lift the bar higher but not so high that it becomes impossible to achieve. By prioritising your tasks and setting goals which you are willing and able to do, you can set goals just high enough to exercise your innate potential. In addition, your goal should be relevant to what you want to pursue in the future and it should act like a stepping stone to what your eventual dream is. It is futile in setting a goal that does not interest you, nor does it help you build the skills you need for the future. Lastly, the goal should be time-bound for example, within the period of a month or perhaps a year. The time frame provides a sense of urgency and likewise, it gives you an end to accomplish the goals which again can act as the finishing line.
Conclusively, we get so focused by the outcome, that we tend to forget to plan all the steps that are needed along the way. Goal setting is an ongoing activity and not just a means to an end and it helps one get through life systematically while achieving the best that they can in all fields.
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Conclusively, we get so focused by the outcome, that we tend to forget to plan all the steps that are needed along the way. Goal setting is an ongoing activity and not just a means to an end and it helps one get through life systematically while achieving the best that they can in all fields.
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Read more articles
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We kindly acknowledge use of materials from various websites, books, journals, etc.