The Philosophy of Goal Setting – Part 1.
Posted By Mary on June 24, 2009
What I am going to discuss in this series of articles is the Philosophy of Goal Setting. In other words, why is there a need to actually set goals.
Everyone has goals. Without goals, or a purpose, we die, simple fact. Now that may surprise some of you because the average person equates goals setting with wanting to achieve a specific thing in their lives. However, a person who is just looking forward to a night out next Friday, or retirement has that as their goal. Whether they are aware of it or not, it is still a goal. Goals are not necessarily long term events. They can be very short term, such as looking forward to the end of the week.
Whether they are long term, short term, trivial or serious we all automatically seek out goals.
The question is however, are these goals what we REALLY want? Are they worthy of the
unique human beings we are? Are they big enough for all the unending potential with us?
Why Do We Want These Goals?
Let’s put that into a more concrete form. What do we personally expect to get out of achieving our goal?
We would all agree that we have chosen our goals because the attainment of these goals will make us happy or happier still. Our goal maybe something such as a new car, or a new pair of shoes but we all know that even when we have attained the goal, our happiness is usually only temporary.
It is a cycle of goal setting. Achievement, temporary happiness, followed by another goal which is the process by which we learn to set ourselves worthy and important goals. A process which leads to setting the long term goals which will enable us to manifest anything we wish into our lives.
The psychologist, Matsumoto believes moreover, that many of us do not gain all that is to be gained from our goal setting. We only enjoy the happiness of reaching the goal. The actual path we take to reach our goal, the hard work, the repeated disappointments, these are the price we believe we HAVE TO pay.
However, the most successful people, Matsumoto says, are those who not only enjoy the end result but also enjoy the process of achieving it. These people actually WANT TO pay the double price.
They regard the difficulties as the rules of the game which make it truly interesting. They pay a double price but they get MORE than a double dividend.
Part Two of the Philosophy of Goal Setting will deal with “What Is Happiness”. Which will be posted within the next day or two.
Mary, your readers may be interested in this resource on goal setting:
http://www.goalsettingforstudents.com/free-stuff.html
JOhn
Thank you John, went over and had a look at your site and yes, my readers certainly would find it very interesting and helpful.