The importance of having goals

The concept of having a goal, or something to aim for, is one that shapes life from a young age.

As children we are encouraged to study to pass exams so that we can get that job or place at university, and as adults, the dream extends to attaining things such as a family, financial independence, contentment, or even material things, such as a country-cottage with an Aga.

However we chose to define it, ‘success’ in life is often said to require a ‘road map’, which can apparently be a very powerful tool in orchestrating a life of fulfilment, because without one we are merely drifting around.

First and foremost, a life-plan can provide an otherwise aimless day with a sense of direction – it gives purpose- and it is agreed that achieving goals feels good, not only because we have done something we set out to do, but also because of the dopamine (a neurotransmitter) that is released.  

These feel-good chemicals go on to make us more revved-up to set and achieve new goals.

Of course, not everyone needs to do this and there have even been suggestions that a life-plan can stop progression and increase disappointment. Therefore, it is crucial not to live life strictly according to the plan. Life is, by its very nature, essentially uncontrollable and wild. There is an element of surprise that can dish out the good and the bad, and sticking to goals too firmly could result in other golden and unforeseen opportunities passing us by.

But, without a doubt, the majority of people appear to support the notion that designing a ‘road-map’ for life is worth a try and having in the background.

So, how does one go about doing such a thing?

Well, we all know that every journey, no matter how long, must start with a first-step (no matter how small), and so, in order to place the foot correctly, we need to know the direction: we need a goal.

Of course the goal is going to be different for everyone, but it’s a good idea to try and think about what life would look like in, say, 5-years time.

There is an argument that anything too far ahead, or too soon, could make the goal unachievable or, indeed, not ‘real’ enough.

Considering where we want to be in the future involves painting a picture and noting the keys elements.

What am I doing for an occupation? How do I feel? Who do I interact with? Where do I live?

Once we have our ‘ideal picture’ we need to write about it, because putting thoughts to paper has a way of solidifying them, and the process can also help to weed out the superfluous bits that don’t make any sense.

Then, once we have our direction, we can start to scale it back, to the here and now, and identify the space in-between that moment, and this moment, as a series of tasks: how do I get there? What do I need to do?

Break it down into bite-sized goals, get the calendar out and note when and how tasks can be achieved.

I must admit, the very act of doing this for my own life has had the effect of a) discarding any silly goals that I don’t really care to achieve and b) strengthening the conviction of the goals that do matter to me.

As a result, I feel less stretched and confused, and I now weigh-up whether something is worth my while in the long run, and I must admit I feel encouraged to achieve certain things. It certainly helps me to get out of bed when I could quite easily just stay there.

The plan can be tweaked in-line with life events, and it shouldn’t be used as a ruler, but I do feel that if used as a guide, it can have a wonderful effect.

It’s certainly not a waste of time, and at the end of the day, if it means nothing or is proving detrimental to overall wellbeing, then it’s worth remembering that it is only a piece of paper: it can be framed or binned, depending on it’s worth!