Why is goal setting important if the consequences seem … inconsequential? As 2020 proved, there’re no guarantees for any of us. Here are just a few reasons you need to think about the future and how to get there.
1. You’ll get lost.
If you were a pirate looking for treasure, you won’t just start digging around willy-nilly for treasure. You’d probably get an ancient map with an ‘x’ that marks the spot. The same is true for setting goals. If you don’t set goals, you’ll wander around aimlessly in every area of life, blowing around where the wind takes you. It sounds great in fiction, but it’s poor form here in reality.
2. You’ll miss opportunities.
People only seek assistance from those who are motivated and moving somewhere. Would you ask a couch potato to help move a couch? If you don’t set goals and complacently just “roll with it” all the time—whether professionally or personally—you’ll miss promotions, pay raises, and invitations you’d otherwise get if you had some goals you were working towards, such as finding a better job or dating that special someone.
3. You’ll lose the power of attraction.
It’s a hotly debated topic, but many people out there swear there’s something intangibly true about how the way we think and feel affects the world. Think good, and it will be good. With goals, success will come your way. Without goals, you’re unable to see what’s headed in your direction.
4. You’ll feel empty inside.
Steven Hawking, one of the greatest scientific minds in modern times, left behind many thoughts about the universe, but one that was applicable even to those who aren’t physicists was to find meaningful work. Goals give you a reason to get up in the morning and embrace the outstanding gift that is life. Without goals, you might as well just roll over and go back to sleep—all day.
5. You won’t feel as good as you can about yourself.
Does doubt plague your thoughts sometimes? It’s natural and human to wonder if we really are worth our place in the world. Of course, the answer is that every person has a unique piece in the puzzle, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. But in order to tap into that sense of self worth, you need to set some goals and get working. You’ll feel great when you achieve them, and purposeful as you work towards them.
This Valorous Circle blog post on goal setting contains licensed content from a third-party source.
