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7 Reasons Why It Is Important To Have Goals
Deanna Mascle
I recently had a conversation with one of my former students.
She has been out of school for a few years now but isn't satisfied
with the direction her career has taken. In fact, she's not
too happy with her personal life either. Her voice developed
more than a touch of whine as she said: "I don't know what
to do."
So I asked her about her goals. Her response was a rather
slack-jawed look of surprise. "Goals?" Well at least she wasn't
whining anymore.
I asked her what she would like to see her career in a few
years. I asked her where she'd like to see her life in a few
years. She knew the answers to those questions and quickly
became animated as she discussed her desire to start her own
business. We talked about what she would need to accomplish
her goal and what she would have to change.
When we parted ways she felt a lot better about her job because
she knew that she wasn't trapped in it. She was taking a necessary
step to prepare herself for a long-term goal. She had her
eye on the prize and that focus energized her.
That is the power of goals. What are your goals? There are
seven reasons why you need to have goals.
~ To give direction to life
~ To make sure we are the one choosing the direction of our
life -- not others, not fate, not the media, etc.
~ To motivate
~ To make sure we get what we want from life
~ To save time
~ To reduce stress
~ To give a sense of accomplishment
While it can be fun to live without direction in the short-term,
in the long-term human beings are wired to need a purpose
and direction. Goals give a sense of direction and purpose
to life.
It is often easy to let others set our direction for us. We
take a job because family or friends point us in that direction
and then we follow the dictates of our bosses. We move in
other directions because popular culture or the media tells
us to do so. The simple truth is that if we do not set our
own goals then we will find it too easy to follow a path set
by others. This can lead to stress and unhappiness. We have
a greater chance of happiness and fulfillment following our
own path and pursuing our own goals.
While goals certainly give our lives direction, they also
provide the motivation to get us through difficult times and
choices. Perhaps going to college at night while working full-time
may be stressful and difficult in the short-term, but in the
long run being able to pursue the professional goals we desire
will make it worthwhile.
Goals also serve as the destination for what we really want
out of life. For some people, goals are measured in money
or material goods, while for others goals are measured in
time or freedom. If we do not have goals outlined that suit
our unique perspective on life it is easy to become sidetracked
by life and others.
Goals can also help save time. When your "To Do" list becomes
too long and your calendar too full, then you can simply compare
your goals to the list. What items help you achieve your goal?
What items are necessary to your goal? Scratch off the rest
as unimportant.
Just as goals save time they also reduce stress because using
your goals to focus your life and choices makes it easier
to make those choices. Should you take that new position at
work? How does it match your goals?
Finally, goals give you a measurable sense of accomplishment.
Every goal you achieve, in fact every step you make toward
that goal, can give you a boost of energy and momentum to
keep going. Each success powers you toward the next level
of success.
Now go out and set your goals!
Deanna Mascle publishes the ezine Words
Of Inspiration Online and blog Smiles
By Dawggone.com
Article Source: Self
Improvement Articles from PositiveArticles.Com
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