Two Important Tips on Setting GoalsThese two important tips on setting goals will help to put your goals in a larger context and really push you to achieve your potential. Tip 1: Think About the Big PictureThe first tip is to think about the big picture when creating goals. What is it you are ultimately trying to accomplish? Think about goals in terms of their ultimate conclusion, what will be the overall effect of accomplishing the goal?. It is easy to set goals that we think will make your life better only to find that when you achieve the goal, you are not really better off than where you started. By understanding the final outcome you want, you can then set specific goals to get you there.A common goal you might have thought about is making more money. Improving personal finances might be a good goal, but money is only a means to something else, not the end goal. Why do you want more money? Is it so you can buy more stuff? More stuff does not necessarily make your life better, or improve your happiness. Are you really trying to improve your level of happiness? If it is happiness you ultimately want, you may want to focus your efforts on goals that will lead more directly to that as money doesn't necessary bring happiness. Do you need more money so you are not as stressed? What about your life situation is causing you the stress, and will more money really make the stress go away? For example, financial stress could be caused by living beyond your current means. If your income goes up your spending probably will as well, unless you change the habit of living beyond your means. Maybe your goal should first be to get rid the habits and beliefs that are at the root of your stress. It may take some time before you are able to get to the root of what it is you want, and will usually boil down to finding happiness, fulfillment, and purpose in life. Tip 2: Look Outside of Your Comfort ZoneThe second of these tips on setting goals is to look beyond your comfort zone. It is all to easy to set goals within your comfort zone, finding temporary upgrades you can make to your life to give you the illusion of progress. You may think a raise, a better office, a nicer car, a larger tv, or some other thing will make your life better, that you will be happier if only you had just a little bit more. It doesn't work that way, these things don't lead to long term happiness and fulfillment. Look outside your current situation, look very deeply at what will really make a difference in your life.Once you really clarify what you are ultimately trying to accomplish, use big picture thinking to examine options that might be out of you current comfort zone. Don't just set goals because they are convenient or easy to do- think about the ideal outcome you would like to accomplish, no matter how outlandish or difficult it may seem. Think about what goals will bring happiness, fulfillment, and purpose to your life. What would your ideal life would look like? With this ideal in mind, your immediate goals will revolve around what steps you can start taking now to reach the ideal. You may need to take some radical steps, quit your job, shake up your relationships, move. It may be hard, uncomfortable, and require big changes, but it will pay off in the long run. These two tips on setting goals can make a big difference in your life. Clarifying what you really want will help strip away unnecessary goals and desires and help you to really find satisfaction in life, and expanding the range of options can help you to reach goals outside of your normal comfort zone. Use these two tips on setting goals when doing your long term goal setting, and you will much better off in the long run. Return from Tips on Setting Goals to Personal Goal Setting Return from Tips on Setting Goals to Self Motivation Strategies
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