THE POWER OF GOALS

Authored by: Fridah Mwende

Introduction
Goals are defined as the desired states that people seek to obtain, maintain, or avoid. Majority of
people are aware and have goals in their life. Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about
your ideal future, and motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. The process
of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. Many people across the world are
applying goal setting and has yielded strong returns in various areas of their lives. Therefore, setting
meaningful goals to create real and lasting change in your life is the key highlight of this paper.
How to set Personal Goals
Personal goals are goals related to your work, relationship, finances, and other aspects different life
domains. Various researchers in the past have shown that the simple act of setting a goal improves
our performance related to that goal. In addition, there are some strategies that can be used to set
better personal goals that are easier to accomplish. The acronym SMART can help guide you when
setting personal goals.
SMART goals are:
S - Specific
M - Meaningful
A - Achievable
R - Realistic
T – Trackable
Tactics of setting personal goals
Here are some ways on how to make sure the personal goals you prioritize are easier to achieve:
1. Set challenging goals- Set personal goals that are a little bit challenging, but not out of reach.
This gets us to push ourselves a little harder.
2. Set goals that matter to you- When thinking about which goals to set, be sure to focus on goals
that are meaningful to you. Try to mute the voices from your friends, family, and culture for a
moment to figure out what matters most to you. If you set goals that are not truly your own, they'll
likely be harder to stick to.
3. Commit to your goal- When we commit to a goal in writing or by telling others, we're more likely
to stick to it. We don't really want to disappoint ourselves or others.
What do you consider when developing your personal goals?
Two important things to keep in mind when setting personal goals are your needs and your values.
Some have hypothesized that meeting our needs is exactly what drives us, motivates us, and leads us
to set goals in the first place. This suggests that if the personal goals we set are related to an
unsatisfied need, we may be more likely to stick to them.
Although there are numerous theories related to human needs, we're going to focus here on Ryff's
theory because it incorporates and synthesizes several other older theories (Ryff, 1989). The resulting
six experiences are experiences we all strive for. They can therefore be useful in helping guide us in
setting meaningful, high-impact goals.
Six experiences we strive for:
 Positive relationships with others- We have a need to have warm, trusting, loving
relationships with others.
 Self-acceptance- We have a need to have positive feelings towards ourselves.
 Autonomy- We have a need to be able to direct our own behavior, make our own decisions,
and have freedom.
 Environmental mastery- We have a need to be able to change our circumstances and
advance in the world.
 Personal growth- We have a need to learn and grow as a person.
 Life purpose- We have a need to devote ourselves to something important or have a sense of
meaningfulness or direction.

Anytime you set a personal goal, ask yourself if it helps satisfy one of these needs. It's also helpful
when setting personal goals to keep in mind your values. If we are pursuing goals that are
inconsistent with our values, we are likely to struggle, and we experience internal conflict.
Personal values that related to your personal goals include: authenticity, adventure, balance bravery,
compassion, challenge, citizenship, community, creativity, curiosity, determination, fairness
freedom, friendships, fun, generosity, growth, honesty influence, justice, kindness, knowledge,
leadership, learning, love, loyalty, openness, optimism, recognition, respect, responsibility, security,
self-respect, social connection, spirituality, stability, status, wealthy, wisdom etc.
Types of Personal Goals
Our lives include many aspects, so we may have many different types of personal goals. Here are
some types of personal goals:
1. Career goals- We may want to find a career that we love, advance in our current career, switch to
another career, or develop some new important aspect of our career.
2. Financial goals- Many of us don't have the number of financial resources we want or need to
achieve other important goals. For example, some people have the goal to make a million dollars or
save X number of dollars for retirement, a seemingly magic number to achieve success and
satisfaction. Others include; Pay off your student loans or save enough money to buy something
you've always wanted like a boat, cabin, or another item. When setting financial goals, just be sure to
keep your needs and values in mind to avoid conflicts.
3. Relationship goals- We may want to find a life partner, build more friendships, or improve the
quality of the relationships we already have. For example, to get married by age 30. Some of us have
a goal to get married by age 30 and perhaps have kids shortly after. This goal can help us satisfy
needs related to positive relationships and life purpose because family relationships can be especially
strong, and raising kids tends to give parents a great sense of meaning. If this is a goal of yours, keep
an eye out for conflicts with values like freedom and possibly fun (if you prefer to be doing things
without your spouse or kids).
4. Self-development goals- Most of us have aspects of ourselves that we want to improve. Maybe
we want to be a better public speaker, a kinder parent, a master chess player or become an expert or
leader in our field, go for a walk every day, become a better listener, buy your first home, practice
gratitude daily or learn how to dance. Self-development goals can include all sorts of things related to
improving ourselves in some way.
5. Experience goals- Many of us also have experience goals. We want to travel to Europe, see the
colorful fish in the oceans of Hawaii, attend a concert delivered by our favorite musician, go on a trip
with your best friends, read 1 new book per week, go to Switzerland. These are also personal goals
worth noting.
6. Educational goals- Many people desire to reach certain level of education. Maybe we want to
further our studies overseas or achieve certain grades in their studies. Such as; get into graduate
school, obtain master’s degree, score a distinction, write a book
7. Community goals- Another type of personal goal involves the goals we have that affect others.
Maybe we want to pollute less, increase the number of books at the public library, help someone else
reach one of their dreams, advocate for policy changes that would improve the lives of everyone or
simply give back to your community in ways that matter to you.
WHY GOALS ARE ESSENTIAL TO GET WHAT YOU WANT (The power of goals)
When you’re not getting what you want out of life, you’re not living up to your values and passions.
As frustrating as it is, feeling discontent is actually your first step up. Wanting more out of life drives
you to pursue bigger and better accomplishments. And when you’re clear on what drives you, you
can manifest anything you want. When you commit to being your best self, you can even learn how
to get people to do what you want, since everyone is united by shared goals. With the right approach,
you can learn how to get what you want in a relationship, career or any other facet of life.
What is it you really want in life? What is an area in your life that you’d like to change? Is it related
to your health? Is there a skill you’d like to acquire? Do you want to take your relationship to the
next level? What about your business or your career – is there something specific that you want to
achieve? What in your life do you want to master? With a clear sense of what you want, you’re able
to create goals and a step-by-step plan for getting there.
Therefore, goals allow us to create our future in advance and enable us to get what we want. They
allow us to envision our destinies and shape our lives. They give us direction and hope. But they
must be the right goals. The problem with most people’s goals is that they don’t exactly inspire you
to jump out of bed in the morning. The key to learning how to get what you want is setting
meaningful goals.
Meaningful goals create emotion and drive inside of you. They spur you to grow and expand. Not
only do they spark a sense of hunger inside you, but they allow the other areas of your life to thrive
as well as you pursue your vision. But if you want meaningful goals, then you must create goals that
are compelling enough to draw these emotions out of you.
HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT BY SETTING GOALS
You might be thinking that the concept of goal-setting isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but here’s the
stark reality: most people don’t have a clearly defined set of goals when they start looking for ways
to succeed. More than that, the goal-setting process that we are talking about goes far beyond merely
having a vision for something greater. You need to build the foundation that will give you the skills
you need and allow you to pursue your goals without fear.
1. Fulfill your essential needs
What does it mean to find fulfillment? It all goes back to our Six Human Needs such as certainty,
significance, variety, love/connection, growth and contribution. These are the deepest needs of all
humans, and they drive everything we do. When these basic needs aren’t fulfilled, we get stuck in
harmful cycles. Unhealthy relationships. Destructive habits and addictions. Unfulfilling careers and
Lives filled with fear instead of joy. To break these cycles and achieve what you want in life, you
must break these cycles by fulfilling your essential needs first. Surround yourself with good people.
Build authentic relationships. Discover your values and create goals aligned with your truest self.
When your needs are met through healthy relationships and lifestyle, you’re able to operate at your
peak and give more fully of yourself. When you’re thriving, pursuing what you want enriches your
life and the lives of others.
2. Overcome your limiting beliefs
Now that you’ve fulfilled your essential needs, you can focus on your limiting beliefs and the way
the world is. Such beliefs are often formed in childhood, based on how we were taught to earn the
love we desired most how we were taught to earn the love we desired most or if our needs went
entirely unfulfilled. These beliefs are deeply ingrained, but that doesn’t make them true. You can
change your story and when you do, you’ll change your life.
The fear of failure is often connected to limiting beliefs that you don’t deserve success, or that you’re
not strong enough to survive failure. Relationships that don’t last are connected to beliefs that you
don’t deserve love or a fear of being rejected when you show vulnerability. If you can’t seem to
advance in your career, you may hold beliefs that you’re not skilled, leading to confidence issues.
Once you’ve identified these beliefs, you can be on the lookout for the negative self-talk that creeps
into your inner monologue. Replace these negative thoughts with empowering ones that help you get
what you want instead of holding you back.
3. Adopt empowering habits
Ultimately, your mindset is the basis for how to get what you want in life. If you let your
circumstances, emotions and events outside your control dictate your mindset you’ll always be
emotions and events outside your control dictate your mindset, you ll always be distracted from your
end goals. But when you learn how to control your mindset, you control your outcomes. One way to
do this is to adopt empowering habits.
Meditation calms the mind, and when your mind is calm and centered, you’re in touch with your true
desires, so you’re able to make actionable plans to get there. If you’re new to mindfulness meditation
you can start a practice in just a few minutes a day. By making mindfulness a habit, you’re able to
bring greater clarity and self-awareness to your day-to-day life.
Gratitude is another habit that can completely transform your mindset. When you realize that life
happens for you, not to you, you’re able to approach challenges as opportunities instead of obstacles.
You’ll form a deep belief in yourself and become truly unstoppable.
4. Define your goals
To get what you want, you must first define it. It sounds obvious, yet so many people go through life
without defining what they want. With a clear sense of what you want, you’re able to create goals
and a step-by-step plan for getting there.
Asking how to get what you want in a relationship, career or project isn’t selfish – it’s what keeps
you inspired to grow. And in any collaborative endeavor, asking how to get people to do what you
want really means inspiring people to work toward your shared goals. Great leaders inspire action
instead of forcing it. They always share an exciting vision as well as specific steps needed to make it
a reality.
What is it you really want in life? What is an area in your life that you’d like to change? Is it related
to your health? Is there a skill you’d like to acquire? Do you want to create an extraordinary
relationship? What about your business or your career – is there something specific that you want to
achieve? What in your life do you want to master?
5. Write it down
Write your goals down – not on a computer, but on paper or in a journal. There’s something that
happens when we write something down on a physical piece of paper. You become a creator when
you write down your goals. You are acknowledging both to your conscious and subconscious minds
that where you are right now is not where you want to be. Your brain then makes this distinction and
becomes unhappy with the status quo.
One of the strongest incentives is a sense of discontentment. When you’re totally comfortable and
relaxed, you’re not going to be inspired to do whatever it takes to make things happen.
Discontentment is a power that you want on your side. There is real drive when you find something
that you want to move away from. Tension and pressure can serve as powerful drivers of our actions.
Use this as a tool to influence yourself so you can start to take actionable steps toward your success.
Learning how to get what you want becomes a strategy instead of just a dream.
6. Get clear on the “why”
Now, get crystal clear. Write out the details: How would achieving this goal make you feel? What
would it mean to you to get what you want? How will it change your life? When you’re clear on why
your desires are important to you, learning how to get what you want (or how to get people to do
what you want) becomes more get what you want (or how to get people to do what you want)
becomes more natural.
By getting absolutely clear as to why you must achieve your goal, you will find your purpose. And
purpose is stronger than outcome. The purpose of a goal is not so you can get the result – it’s what
the end result will make you as a person. Learning how to get what you want becomes a source of
fulfillment, since you’re acting in alignment with your passions.
Knowing this purpose will help keep you laser-focused, and it will help get you through the rough
times. If you create a strong enough “why” to keep you going, you will have the fuel to endure
anything that comes your way. Realize that material objects or a certain title will not make you
happy. The only thing that will make you happy is the person you have become and what you have
created in your lifetime.
So, what are the reasons that you must achieve your goal? How will it change your life for the better?
What lies underneath your surface aspirations?
7. Find absolute certainty
It’s perfectly okay to have no idea how to get people to do what you want or a strategy for achieving
your goal. And it’s perfectly okay to set goals that go beyond your present ability or skill. What’s
important here is that you operate from a place of absolute belief and faith.
Frame your goals with absolute certainty – that no matter what, you will find a way to make it
happen. This is crucial for accomplishing your goals. Even if it seems impossible to you now, you
know in your core that you can pull it off. When you have that fundamental belief, you will be taking
back control of your life. So even though you may not be able to control the outside world or the
challenges that come your way, you know that you will persevere and overcome.
So many people give up prematurely because they focus on the outcome and then stop and tell
themselves, “I don’t know how to do that” or “I could never achieve that.” Or they fail along the way
and decide to quit because it seems easier than trying again. What if you didn’t have to figure out
how to get what you want, but rather believe that you will figure it out no matter what? That
achieving your goal is not only within the realm of possibilities, it is an absolute certainty? Just
imagine how that could change your life right now.
8. Deliberate practice and repetition
Think about the greatest coaches of all-time: Vince Lombardi and John Wooden , for example. They
were famous for teaching the fundamentals to individuals who were already the best at what they did.
And they did it over and over again. Why? Because repetition is the mother of skill.
To master how to get what you want, you cannot set goals one time, never look at them again – and
then expect long-term results. Your subconscious mind may know the general direction to move in,
but the power comes from daily practice and constant review. People looking for a quick fix will
never achieve mastery. Reaching your goals takes focus and deliberate practice: You have to repeat
skills over and over again in order to get what you want. In personal and professional settings, you
must practice the skills of empathy and respect before you’ll ever be able to learn how to get people
to do what you want.
If it’s a new skill you want to acquire, learning how to utilize a deliberate practice strategy is a key
part of becoming comfortable within your new practice. If you’re looking to achieve more in your
business, then determine the core processes you need to shift and execute those on a regular basis.
What about bringing more joy and passion into your relationship? Intimacy is a daily practice?
Intimacy is a daily practice. If you want to master anything you have to ingrain it into your system.
And practice is a key part of that. Remember, consistent practice and constant focus – this is what
will result in a profound and lasting impact on your life. Mastering how to get what you want in life
isn’t easy – if it was, everyone would be joyful and fulfilled.
Practical strategies to help you stick to your goals
Once you know your goals, it can be helpful to implement some strategies to stay on track:
 Track progress towards personal goals. Find a way to record progress towards your goal so
that you can see how far you've come.
 Modify your long-term goals- Often, goals will shift some as we move forward. So, take the
time to modify your goals and make sure you're still heading where you want to go.
 Create your 10-year plan- Creating a ten-year plan can help you see how today's goals can
set you up for tomorrow's goals. This can also help you avoid short-termism, it helps you
make sure you're setting the right goals for the long term.
 Break each goal into small pieces- When your goals are broken down into smaller pieces,
it's easier to see how each can be accomplished. This can give you more confidence that you
can indeed reach your goals.
 Create a timeline for your goals- Try to estimate how long it will take to do each small
piece of your goal. Then, map these pieces out on your calendar to estimate how long it will
take you to self-actualize your bigger goal. Use this timeline to help you progress toward your
goal.

Conclusion
Setting personal goals can be super helpful for getting to where we want to go in life. Getting what
you want takes time, commitment and clarity of purpose. We are all capable of accomplishing the
things we dream of; we just have to decide to go after these goals with everything we have. Are you
ready to take control of your life and go after what it is you really want? Start today, and set the
future version of yourself up for success. Discover the driving force behind your goals to master how
to get what you want in life. Hopefully, this paper will be helpful to thousands of people on that
journey.
THE END!