essay about ways to reach your goals in life

Essay on Goals in Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Goals in Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Goals in Life

Introduction.

Goals in life are like a compass, guiding us towards our desired destination. They provide a sense of direction and purpose, helping us focus and organize our efforts efficiently.

Importance of Goals

Goals are important as they motivate us to strive for success. They make us resilient, enabling us to overcome obstacles and challenges that may come our way.

Types of Goals

Goals can be short-term or long-term. Short-term goals are achievable quickly, while long-term goals require time and persistent effort.

In conclusion, setting goals is essential for personal growth and success. Always remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish.

250 Words Essay on Goals in Life

The importance of setting goals.

Setting goals is integral to our growth and progress. They serve as a blueprint for our future, guiding our actions and decisions. Goals foster resilience, as they urge us to persevere despite setbacks. They also encourage self-development, pushing us to acquire new skills and knowledge.

Goals can be broadly classified into short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals act as immediate milestones, while long-term goals shape our vision for the future. Balancing both is crucial, as short-term goals often pave the way to long-term accomplishments.

Goal Setting and Achievement

Effective goal setting requires specificity, measurability, attainability, relevance, and timeliness (SMART). This approach ensures our goals are realistic and achievable. Moreover, consistent evaluation and adjustment of our goals is essential, as it allows us to stay aligned with our evolving aspirations and circumstances.

In conclusion, goals are fundamental to our life’s journey. They provide direction, foster resilience, and encourage personal growth. Balancing short-term and long-term goals, along with effective goal-setting strategies, can lead us to success. Ultimately, it is through setting and achieving our goals that we write our own life story.

500 Words Essay on Goals in Life

Goals are the compass that guides us through life, providing direction and purpose. They are the stepping stones towards achieving our ultimate dreams and aspirations. Goals, whether personal, professional, or academic, are significant as they shape our lives, fuel our ambition, and give us a sense of accomplishment.

Goals also foster resilience, as they often require sustained effort and dedication. They teach us the value of perseverance, as the journey towards achieving them is usually filled with obstacles and setbacks. However, these challenges serve to strengthen us, enhancing our problem-solving skills and fostering personal growth.

Goals can be broadly categorized into short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals are immediate objectives that can be achieved within a relatively short timeframe. These could range from completing a project, passing an exam, or learning a new skill.

Goal Setting Strategies

Effective goal setting requires thought and planning. One popular method is the SMART framework, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This approach encourages us to set goals that are clear and precise, have a defined timeline, are realistically attainable, and align with our broader life objectives.

Another crucial aspect of goal setting is maintaining flexibility. Life is unpredictable, and circumstances can change unexpectedly. Therefore, it’s essential to be adaptable and open to modifying our goals as needed.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Essays About Goals: Top 5 Examples Plus 10 Prompts

Goals could be a one-time event or a lifelong growth process. Write effectively with the help of our essays about goals and writing prompts in our guide.

Having goals helps us have a sense of purpose. We find our determination, discipline, and strategic thinking tested to their limits. The road toward any goal, especially ambitious ones, is full of thorns and spikes. Some walk away and accept that these goals are not destined for them. Some, however, keep pressing forward, determined to achieve these goals. Gaining confidence in writing can help you achieve your goals by putting pen to paper and starting a plan.

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5 Essay Examples

1. are you goal or growth conscious by katherine beneby, 2. how to help an employee figure out their career goals by dorie clark, 3. no goals: why is it so hard to do something for enjoyment’s sake by jenny valentish, 4. get inspired: how four hikers accomplished their 2021 hiking goals by anna roth , 5. does sharing your goals on social media make you more likely to achieve them by kristan russell, 1. my goals in life, 2. travel goals, 3. the goal of forming better study habits, 4. climate goals: are we progressing, 5. importance of fitness goals, 6. fiscal policy goals, 7. failing at your goals, 8. setting lofty vs. light goals, 9. poverty reduction goals, 10. my academic goals.

“The difference between goals and growth is that goals are seasonal, while growth is lifelong. Goals focus on a destination while growth focuses on a journey.”

In this essay, the writer discusses how achieving our goals may be possible if we reframe our minds to think of them as a growth process. This essay enumerates the difficulties of achieving our objectives and offers guidance on what will help put structure in how we formulate our growth plans. You might also be interested in these essays about bad habits .

“It’s not always possible to help the people we supervise identify and work toward their career goals… [S]o when we can assist our employees in getting there, it’s a meaningful way we can make a difference in their lives and their professional success.”

As per our list of topics to write about , this essay looks at how managers must realize their critical roles in the lives of the employees they handle. Their biggest contribution to the development of their employees is helping them achieve their tasks at work while ensuring these victories lead to their broader career goals. You might also be wondering, why write goals down?

“Once, to stave off depression, I set myself the goal-tastic mission of doing something new every day for a year – from flying in a glider to blowing things up – and blogging about it. Right from day one, the sense of focus lifted my mood, and there was frankly no time to overthink.”

In this essay, the writer looks at how atelic activities, or those we do for fun, positively influence our outlook. Our goal-driven world, however, hinders us from seeing the pure joy of doing things without goals. You might be interested in these essays about dream jobs .

“Last year, she set a goal to simply go hiking at all. And she’s thrilled to have made it happen, saying it was one of the best things she could have done for herself and her family during such a challenging year.”

This writer describes points to inspire people to start hiking and to set personal fitness goals. Look no further and turn to the inspiring stories of people who have targeted to hike across states, hike for the first time, hike once a month for health purposes, and hike a hundred miles yearly. For more inspiration, check out these essays about achievement .

“Wellness gurus and fitness bloggers seem to be divided between whether sharing goals on your social media sabotages you or holds you accountable.“

This essay revolves around a nascent study that aims to see if sharing your goals on social media make them more attainable. While initial results show that those who posted made significant progress compared to people who did not post, more questions need to be explored. You might be inspired by these essays about success .

10 Prompts on Essays About Goals

In this essay, delve into your short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. Before anything else, elaborate on what drew you to set these goals. Then, share your action plans to make them a reality. Discuss the obstacles you’ve faced and how you’ve conquered them.

What is the one destination you dream of? For this essay, daydream about your travel goals. Direct that excitement and write your travel itinerary, the duration of your stay, where you will be staying, and what daring activities you will dare yourself to plunge into. You can also talk about whom you would like to be with when you fulfill your travel goals or if you prefer going solo.

It is a challenge to hit the books when we live in a world with unlimited distractions. In this topic prompt, share effective study habits to help students focus on their studies. One helpful tip, for example, is designing your environment to be conducive to a habit change. In the case of study habits, this means temporarily eliminating access to social media and other digital distractions. Cite more tips and conclude your essay with a few words of motivation.

Under the Paris Agreement , the landmark international agreement to fight climate change, countries must jointly strive to arrest global warming and cap it to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. The question is: is this goal still on the table? Read recent news articles on how countries are following through on their Paris Treaty pledges. Listen to what environmentalists say about national efforts and tackle what more must be done to attain the climate goals.

Fitness is a common new year’s resolution but try convincing your readers to start their fitness goals today. First, help your readers explore the right dietary program and workout schedule based on their daily demands.

Then, underscore the importance of a fitness goal for gaining self-esteem and improving physical and mental health. Entice them with the idea of gaining a new exciting skill from a new workout activity and motivate them to start unlocking the fit version of themselves today.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries recorded ballooning debts as governments spent heavily to fight the pandemic and also support struggling sectors. So first, determine whether your country is in a tight fiscal space.

The fiscal space assessment framework created by the International Monetary Fund may help you identify the metrics and data to gather. Then, shed light on your government’s fiscal policy goals to address debt while spending in sectors that guarantee an economy’s long-term health, such as education and social services.

How do people receive failures? Write about people’s attitudes and actions when they fail at their goals. Can people develop depression, and how can they recover from the fall? Try to answer these and share your experience of failing at your goals.

Ask yourself: How did you move forward after that? Then, share your opinions on whether a failure signifies that it would be best for someone to find a new goal altogether or try again with stronger determination and a better-calculated strategy.

Which is better: aiming for a lofty goal that opens risks of failure, which many fear, or light goals that might do little in stretching out your potential? Answer this by listing the pros and cons of each. Then help readers strike the optimum balance between a loft or light goal. Cite examples of lofty and light goals to help your readers better differentiate the two.

For this essay, take a deep dive into the poverty reduction efforts of your government. First, give an overview of an ongoing flagship poverty reduction program and uncover its outcomes since its implementation. Read through government reports about the breakthrough goals of the program and which ones are gaining momentum.

Then, look at the other side of the fence by listening to what critics say about the program. Take note of their laments about bottlenecks in the program and what more can be done to attain poverty reduction goals swiftly.

Start with a descriptive paragraph detailing your academic goals. Writing about it vividly, as though it is the reality, is a creative way to show readers how much you have played out the scenarios of success in your head while helping your readers fully understand your goals. Then snap back to reality and discuss your action plan to realize these goals.

For related topics, you may check our essays about dreams in life . Don’t forget to proofread your essay with the best grammar checkers .

How To Write A Powerful Essay On Achieving Goals (+ Example)

Goal setting is a useful strategy to get the most out of life and set yourself up for success. However, there are many things to remember regarding proper goal setting and achievement. When writing a blm argumentative essay , it’s important to provide context on the history of the Black Lives Matter movement and the issues it seeks to address. This can help the reader understand the significance of the essay’s thesis and arguments. Let’s get to grips with the process of goal setting and come up with a powerful essay on achieving goals.

Structuring Your Essay on Achieving Goals:

How to write an introduction, how to write the main body of your essay.

There should be a minimum of three paragraphs in your essay. Each one is a ‘mini-essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Each should include:

How to Write a Conclusion

Example of an essay about achieving your goals.

So, let’s put all this information together and check an example essay on achieving goals: Effective Methods to Increase the Likelihood of Goal Achievement Achieving goals can be extremely rewarding and result in a more satisfying and successful life. Many people set goals yet cannot achieve them. However, there are ways to avoid or reduce the likelihood of missing the mark. By ensuring that goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound), using visualization techniques, and rewarding goal attainment, the chances of success increase. First, ensure your goals are SMART. This means that goals should be specific and measurable in terms of outcomes, e.g., test scores . Goals should be achievable and realistic to the person’s capabilities and resources available. Also, a goal should apply to the person’s work, education, hobbies, or interests and include a deadline. If there is no specificity of outcome, there’s no real way to see how someone has improved—or how they might be falling short. And if goals are not SMART, they are more difficult to achieve. Second, by imagining and visualizing the feelings and outcomes of achievement of the goal , the likelihood of high achievement increases. The imagination can be a powerful tool. Imagining the feelings of accomplishment helps to increase self-efficacy and motivation. A Canadian study found that imagery skills moderate the effect of mental practice on self-efficacy. The effects of visualization techniques are valuable in goal achievement. Third, once the goal has been accomplished, a reward is required. Getting a reward for hard work will increasingly motivate an individual to set and achieve the next goal. The offer of a reward gives employees and students an extra boost of motivation. Rewards help the cycle of goal setting and goal achieving to continue. In summary, by ensuring the goals set are SMART, visualizing and rewarding success, goal achievement becomes more likely. Achieving goals is a cyclic process that’s possible to master if the right method is in place.

The Basics of Setting and Achieving Goals

Goals should be specific and free of generalizations, or they are unlikely to get done. Instead of stating that your goal is to improve your English skills, make it more specific by stating that your goal is to learn and use one new word every weekday to boost your English vocabulary.

A goal should be measurable because you need to keep your finger on the pulse and know where you’re at. For instance, a test or assessment score can provide evidence that you have reached your goal.

A goal needs to be possible to achieved. If it’s beyond your capabilities or requires resources you cannot access, then you will set yourself up for failure.

You must set a completion date for your goal. If you do not set a deadline, you may lack the motivation to reach it. Once you have your SMART goal, record it clearly on paper or a mobile device and then visualize the outcome of achieving that goal. Imagine how happy you will feel when you achieve it. This vivid mental imagery will provide you with the extra motivation to go for it. Finally, when you reach your goal, it’s time to celebrate! Reward yourself with a trip, an item you desire, relaxation time with friends, or whatever else that will make you feel happy.

Ready to write an essay about achieving goals?

Hopefully, the information in the article has given you the basics to help you write a powerful essay on achieving goals. I also hope that this article has helped you think about how you can work toward achieving your own goals. There are many great books about the science of goal achievement. I especially recommend ones written by Brian Tracy , as they have helped me a great deal in my pursuit of happiness . You can also create an engaging presentation about achieving goals and objectives using this goal presentation template . Next up, you may want to explore an ultimate guide to writing expository essays .

Rafal Reyzer

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How Do I Write An Essay About Achieving My Goals?

Introduction.

Writing an essay about achieving your goals can be a powerful exercise in self-reflection and motivation. Whether you are writing for a class assignment, a college application, or simply for personal development, this article will guide you through the process of creating a well-structured and compelling essay on this topic. By breaking down the steps involved and providing helpful tips, you’ll be equipped to express your aspirations, outline an action plan, and highlight the significance of achieving your goals.

Step 1: Set Clear Goals

Achieving your goals starts with clearly defining what you want to accomplish. Take some time to reflect on your aspirations and think about what truly matters to you. Your goals may include academic achievements, career aspirations, personal growth, or any other area of your life that you wish to improve. Ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART goals). By setting clear goals, you will be able to better articulate your vision in your essay.

Step 2: Plan Your Essay Structure

Before diving into the writing process, it’s essential to plan the structure of your essay. This will ensure that your ideas flow smoothly and logically, engaging the reader from start to finish. Generally, an essay consists of three main parts: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

The Introduction: Begin your essay with a captivating introduction. Grab the reader’s attention with an anecdote, a relevant quote, or a thought-provoking question. Clearly state your goals and the significance they hold for you. Conclude the introduction with a concise thesis statement that presents the main focus of your essay.

Body Paragraphs: The body of your essay offers an opportunity to elaborate on your goals and the steps you are taking or planning to take to achieve them. Divide your body paragraphs based on the subtopics or themes you want to discuss. For each paragraph, present a specific goal, provide relevant details, and explain why it is important to you. Consider incorporating examples, personal experiences, or research to support your statements and make your essay more persuasive.

The Conclusion: Wrap up your essay with a strong conclusion that reinforces the main points you have discussed. Avoid introducing new information here. Instead, highlight the potential impact of achieving your goals and leave the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Step 3: Conduct Research

If your essay requires factual information or expert opinions, conducting research will provide you with valuable insights to enhance your writing. Utilize reputable sources such as scholarly articles, books, or credible websites to gather information that supports your aspirations. When referencing sources, make sure to cite them properly using the appropriate citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).

Step 4: Draft and Revise

Now that you have a plan and have conducted research, begin writing the initial draft of your essay. Start with the body paragraphs, as they contain the core content of your essay. Ensure each paragraph follows a logical flow and connects back to the main focus of your essay.

Once you have completed your draft, take time to review and revise. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Ensure that your ideas are presented clearly and cohesively. Consider seeking feedback from others, such as teachers, family members, or friends, to gain different perspectives and improve your essay even further.

Step 5: Add Personal Reflection

In addition to presenting your goals and action plans, be sure to include personal reflections throughout your essay. Explain why achieving these goals is meaningful to you and how they align with your values and aspirations. By sharing your personal insights and emotions, you will create a more engaging and authentic essay.

Step 6: Edit and Proofread

Before submitting your essay, it is crucial to edit and proofread your work. Review your essay for any errors, both grammatical and typographical. Ensure that your ideas are coherent and logical, and that your writing flows smoothly. Consider using online grammar checkers or seeking assistance from a professional editor if needed.

Writing an essay about achieving your goals allows you to reflect on your aspirations, establish a concrete plan, and demonstrate your determination to succeed. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a compelling essay that effectively communicates your goals and motivates both yourself and your readers.

How to Write an Essay About My Goal: A Comprehensive Guide

In the ever-evolving journey of life, setting clear objectives and ambitions is crucial. Whether these goals are short-term or stretch into the far reaches of our future, they act as guiding lights in our journey. This guide will assist you in articulating and expressing these ambitions effectively, especially when it comes to writing them down.

Understanding the Importance of Goal Setting

Setting life goals is a combination of introspection and foresight. It demands an understanding of one's current standing and a clear vision for the future. By penning down your goals, you not only provide yourself a clear road map but also make a commitment to yourself to achieve them.

How To Write An Essay About My Life Goals

Introduction : Initiate with an engaging hook—be it a quote, question, or anecdote—that aligns with your goal.
State your main goal : Elucidate on what your primary life objective is. Be it professional success, personal achievement, or societal contribution, clarify your aim.
The 'Why' behind the goal : Delve into your motivations. Discuss the driving forces behind this ambition.
Steps to achieve : Provide a roadmap. Enumerate the steps you'd undertake to transform this goal into a reality.
Potential Challenges : Highlight potential obstacles and your strategies to navigate them.
Conclusion : Summarize and re-emphasize your dedication towards your objective.

Career Goal Essay Definition

It's essential to differentiate between life goals and career goals. While the former encompasses broader objectives, a career goal essay underscores your professional aspirations, detailing why they matter and how you plan to attain them.

How Long is a Professional Goal Statement?

A professional goal statement's length can vary but should be concise. Ranging typically from 500 to 1000 words, it should capture your aspirations succinctly. Always adhere to specific guidelines if provided.

What to Avoid While Writing Your Career Goal Essay

• Ambiguity: Always be specific. • Unsubstantiated lofty goals: Your ambitions should be grounded in reality. • Neglecting personal growth: Showcase how your past has shaped your future. • Reiteration: Stay succinct and steer clear of repetition.

My Future Goals Essay: 12 Models

Entrepreneurial Aspirations : Launching a sustainable fashion startup by 2030.
Technological Goals : Developing an AI-driven community healthcare system.
Educational Objectives : Attaining a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics.
Artistic Pursuits : Holding a solo art exhibition in a renowned gallery.
Societal Contributions : Establishing a foundation for underprivileged children's education.
Scientific Aspirations : Contributing to renewable energy research.
Medical Goals : Becoming a pediatric surgeon and researching rare childhood diseases.
Travel Objectives : Visiting every UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sports Ambitions : Completing an Ironman Triathlon.
Literary Goals : Publishing a trilogy of fantasy novels.
Environmental Aims : Pioneering a city-wide recycling initiative.
Leadership Aspirations : Becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Articulating one's life and career goals requires introspection, clarity, and foresight. This guide offers a structured blueprint to ensure your essay not only adheres to academic standards but genuinely resonates with your aspirations and dreams. Whether you're grappling with questions like "what should I write in my college essay?" or "how to draft a goal statement?", this guide is here to light the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal structure for a future career essay? Start with an engaging introduction about your aspirations. In the body, detail the steps you plan to take, experiences that have guided you, and why you chose this career. End with a conclusion summarizing your determination and future vision.
How do I ensure my career goals essay stands out? Incorporate personal stories or experiences that shaped your goals. Be specific about your aspirations and how you plan to achieve them.
How can I relate my past experiences to my future career in the essay? Highlight skills, lessons, or challenges from your past and demonstrate how they have directed or prepared you for your future career.
What should I avoid when writing an essay about my career goals? Avoid being too vague about your goals. Steer clear of clichés, and ensure your goals are realistic and grounded.
How long should my essay about my goal be? This depends on the requirement. Usually, personal statements are between 500-700 words. Always adhere to the specified word limit.
Can I include short-term and long-term goals in my essay? Absolutely! Detailing both shows planning and vision. Highlight how short-term goals will pave the way for long-term objectives.
How do I conclude my essay about my goals effectively? Reiterate your dedication to these goals, reflect on the journey ahead, and end with a note of optimism and determination.

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How to Set and Achieve Life Goals The Right Way

So, can we take this premise and apply it to the biggest, most meaningful objectives we could possibly set for ourselves—our life goals?

And what would that really mean, in terms of planning and getting on with it?

Locke’s seminal research has given us a good deal to go on when it comes to effective goal-setting. But understanding goal-setting theory is only one step toward crafting personal life goals. In this article, we’ll take a closer peek at some ideas and resources that will help you set out on the right path, and stick at it for success.

Whether you’ve got no clue what you want, or you have a mile-long bucket list, hopefully, there will be something in here to get you motivated.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

This Article Contains:

What are life goals, why should we set goals in life, 5 examples of setting life goals, life goal ideas: a list of goals to achieve in life, the process and steps of setting life goals, how to find and determine personal goals in life, healthy goal setting objectives and guidelines, planning life goals and how to prioritize them (incl. planner), 5 worksheets for creating and setting life goals (incl. pdf), how to track and evaluate the status of your life goals: the role of accountability, 11 strategies and techniques for achieving success, a look at life without goals, 3 life goal apps, 6 books on the topic, 17 inspiring quotes, a take-home message.

Life goals are what we want to achieve, and they’re much more meaningful than just ‘ what we need to accomplish to survive ’. Unlike daily routines or short-term objectives, they drive our behaviors over the long run. There’s no single psychological definition for them, and they aren’t strictly a clinical construct, but they help us determine what we want to experience in terms of our values .

And because they are personal ambitions, they can take many different forms. But they give us a sense of direction and make us accountable as we strive for happiness and wellbeing—for our best possible lives.

Lots of us have dreams. We know what makes us happy, what we’d love to try out, and we may have a vague idea of how we’d go about it. But setting clear goals can be beneficial in several ways, above and beyond wishful thinking: here are a few.

1. Setting Goals Can Clarify Our Behaviors

First and foremost, Locke’s Theory of Goal-Setting puts intentions squarely at the center of our behavior (Locke, 1968). The act of setting goals and the thought we put into crafting them directs our attention to the why, how, and what of our aspirations. As such, they give us something to focus on and impact positively on our motivation.

Of course, there are limitations to the generalizability of this finding—simply setting goals won’t drive the actions that lead us to success.

We’ll look at this shortly, but for now, suffice to say that they give us something to commit to. It may not be easy to switch careers, but acknowledge that it’s your goal and you’ll at least be able to choose some appropriate actions (Ajzen, 1991).

2. Goals Allow for Feedback

If and when we know where we want to be, we can assess where we are now, and essentially, we can chart our progress. This feedback helps us adjust our behavior accordingly (and when it’s rewarding feedback, our brains release dopamine, e.g. Treadway et al., 2012). By allowing for feedback, goals let us align or re-align our behaviors, keeping us on track with our eyes on the prize.

3. Goal-setting Can Promote Happiness

When our goals are based on our values, they are meaningful. Meaning, purpose, and striving for something ‘bigger’ is a key element of happiness theory in positive psychology, and the ‘M’ in Seligman’s PERMA model (Seligman, 2004).

Along with positive emotion, relationships, engagement, and accomplishment (which goals allow for), it makes up what we’ve come to known as ‘The Good Life’.

In other words, life goals represent something besides the daily grind. They allow us to pursue authentic aims of our own choosing and enjoy a feeling of achievement when we get there. That said, even striving to be the very best we can sometimes lead to happiness in itself, according to eudaimonic wellbeing research (Ryan & Huta, 2009; Huta, 2016).

4. They Encourage Us to Use Our Strengths

When we consider what matters the most to us, we can get more attuned with our inner strengths as well as our passions. Charting a course for ourselves is one thing, but using our strengths to get there comes with a whole set of other benefits.

Studies show that knowing and leveraging our strengths can increase our confidence (Crabtree 2002), boost our engagement (Sorensen, 2014), and even promote feelings of good health and life satisfaction (Proyer et al., 2013).

Using them in pursuit of our goals, therefore—even discovering what they are—can be a good thing for our wellbeing.

essay about ways to reach your goals in life

As you may have seen elsewhere in our goal-setting articles, positive psychologists tend to draw on (at least) four main findings from his original work and the literature that followed (Locke & Latham, 2002; 2006).

We can then take a ‘nice idea’ and create some examples of setting goals from it. Let’s assume, therefore, that Jamie wants to set goals based on her passion – teaching.

The more difficult Jamie’s goal, the greater the accomplishment. Challenge, in other words, is important. Jamie could approach her goal-setting with an easy task like “ Helping my brother with his homework “, but she will derive a greater sense of achievement if she sets the bar a bit higher. An example here would be, “ Become a certified teacher ”. At the other extreme, she might try to avoid overly excessive and potentially unattainable goals, like “ Starting my own boarding school by the end of the year .”
The more explicit Jamie’s goal, the better she will be able to regulate her performance. Here, she could specify exactly what she wants to achieve in greater detail: “ Become a certified K1 teacher for asylum seekers in Svenborgia ”. With more precise details, Jamie can get more explicit feedback on her progress and align her performance accordingly—helping her on the path to achievement.
High goal commitment comes from setting important, attainable goals. At this point, Jamie has addressed challenge and clarity (or difficulty and specificity) (vanSonnenberg, 2011). She will need to reflect on whether it really matters to her and whether it’s realistic. This is more of a principle and less of a ‘step’. Does she understand what it involves and does it align with her values?
Jamie needs to ensure she can get feedback to stay motivated. In other words, she needs to be able to look at where she is along the way and compare that to her goal. Has she enrolled in the relevant academic pathway? Has she signed up for professional experience? Or has she achieved those and now she’s getting her Svenborgia work visa? Even better, she could see if someone might mentor her, allowing her more regular feedback on her progress.
Jamie’s goal should not be overly complex. As life goes on, our goals may change. Jamie might realize at teacher’s college that she wants to redefine the goal. Maybe she now wants to teach in another country and decides to learn another language. Although there’s no harm in reassessing her goals, the main takeaway is that she should not increase the difficulty of her task(s) beyond what is achievable or realistic—or she may become overwhelmed.

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Inherently, life goals need to be meaningful, and meaning is subjective. In that respect, it’s probably more useful to think about categories or types of life goals before reeling off potential bucket list objectives.

According to Kasser and Ryan (2001), therefore, there are two types of life goals, and these relate to our wellbeing in different ways:

Intrinsic goals relate to emotional intimacy, personal growth, and helping others. They are believed to be aligned with our needs as humans, reflecting our inherent desire for self-knowledge and more fulfilling relationships (Maslow, 1943).
Extrinsic goals are more culturally defined and less about our nature as human beings, encompassing things like our physical appearance, social standing, status symbols, and wealth.

Research suggests that intrinsic life goals are related to greater happiness, self-actualization, vitality, and satisfaction with life, compared with extrinsic life goals (Ryan et al., 1999; Niemiec et al., 2009).

But at the end of the day, evidence also shows that the content of our goals may be less important to our wellbeing than our reasons for pursuing them. Having the ‘right’ reason for goal pursuit—irrespective of the aspiration itself, that is—has been found to contribute to our wellbeing, and the opposite applies (Carver & Baird, 1998).

Intrinsic Life Goals

These satisfy the needs that stem from being human—including our psychological and self-fulfillment needs, as shown below in Maslow’s Hierarchy (1943).

Life goals based on the former might include:

Having a loving marriage or a trusting relationship with your significant other;
Finding and keeping a healthy work-life balance, with time for friends and family;
Living with integrity, being honest and open with others;
Inspiring others through your beliefs and actions;
Being a great listener so that others can turn to you; or
Becoming an expert in your field and helping others.

Self-fulfillment needs-based goals could entail:

Coming up with a new invention that reflects your creative abilities;
Being a successful entrepreneur and running your own business;
Creating your own personal brand for your work;
Graduating with a Master’s or Ph.D. in something;
Learning a new language; or
Picking up a ‘hard skill’ and mastering it.

Extrinsic Life Goals

Extrinsic goals aren’t necessarily material, but because they are generally ‘wants’ rather than human needs, they are easier to come up with. They require less self-reflection, for example:

Owning the very latest Tesla;
Becoming a millionaire;
Getting a big promotion or being in a senior position at work;
Starring in a movie;
Having your own workshop/studio or
Visiting every country in Europe.

At the end of this article, I’ve also included some recommended books on setting life goals. Miller and Frisch’s Creating Your Best Life , for one, has many more examples that you’ll hopefully find useful.

You can (and easily will) find countless models for goal setting in the self-help literature. But what does positive psychology say about the process and steps of goal-setting? The following framework is taken from the well-known psychological capital intervention (PCI), and it uses three steps: goal design, pathway generation, and overcoming obstacles (Luthans et al., 2006).

1. Goal Design

The first step is to design our goals. When crafting goals, we need to remember the key premise of goal-setting theory—that they are intentions which guide our behavior. They are “targets for mental action sequences” (Synder, 2002: 250).

Ideally, by design:

Goals should be concrete endpoints. That is, we should be able to measure our success because they are clear and detailed;
They should be approach-based. This means we should easily be able to focus on moving positively towards their accomplishment, rather than on away from negative outcomes. (“Working toward” rather than “avoiding” something) (Coats et al., 1996); and
We should be able to break them down into sub-goals if necessary so that we can celebrate little successes along the way (Snyder et al., 1991).

2. Pathway Generation

We now have personally meaningful life goals designed and we can start thinking about different potential pathways for achieving them. Luthans and colleagues’ PsyCap Intervention invited participants to brainstorm multiple pathways without worrying at first about their feasibility. ‘As many possibilities as they could think of’, essentially, and not unlike ‘there are no bad ideas in brainstorming’.

Participants then invited others to weigh in and add to their potential pathways. In the same way, you might ask friends, family, or someone in a mentor-like position to help you come up with ideas on how to pursue your goals. What possible pathways might Jamie take to become a certified K1 teacher for asylum seekers in Svenborgia, for example?

The last part of pathway generation considers inventory pathways: what resources will you need to pursue pathway A, B, or C? Essentially, we refine our potential pathways—we think carefully about what we can realistically expect, and this leaves us with fewer, more viable options (Luthans et al., 2006).

3. Overcoming Obstacles

We have inherent beliefs about our ability to use pathways for goal success—our agency—and these are accordingly termed ‘agency thought’ (Snyder, 2002). This kind of thinking plays a particularly important role when we come up against obstacles, especially unexpected ones, as they can determine whether we pick ourselves up or just disengage.

When setting life goals, therefore, it helps to consider the possible barriers that might arise. Independently, we can self-reflect, thinking about our potential pathways as well as our strategies we might use to deal with them (Luthans et al., 2006). We might do this alone or with others, like in the pathway generation stage, and our focus here is to ready ourselves for contingencies.

Put differently, “ What might prevent me from achieving my goal? ” and “ How could I work through or around this? ”

We’ve put it further into context using Maslow ’s Needs Hierarchy, and we’ve laid out a 3-step positive psychology framework for the process of life goal-setting, so now it’s about self-reflection.

You will definitely be able to find inspiration all over the place for different possible goals, but because meaning is intrinsic, your answers will be unique.

With the aim of discovering your own values and inspiration, have a look at these self-reflection exercises and see what the right questions might be for you personally.

No matter what you’ve set as your life goals, adopt some best practice guidelines to make the whole journey a positive experience. Based on what we have looked at so far, we can draw a few objectives to keep in mind.

Be realistic. Try to keep things in perspective both when designing your goals and as you work toward them. Research indicates that the best goals are challenging, yet achievable (Locke & Latham, 2002).
A healthy goal is a positive ‘approach’ goal . Rather than setting negative, avoidance goals that have us working away from certain harmful, averse, or unpleasant outcomes, set yourself positive targets. Depending on whether they are intrinsic or extrinsic, therefore, they might be desirable, enjoyable, or ‘good’ in a deeper sense (Coats et al., 1996).
Be ready to fail along the way…but don’t let it stop you . Resilience is the capacity to persevere in spite of setbacks, and obstacles are inevitable in some form or another. So as well as accepting this inevitability first up, resilience is a useful skill to develop throughout your journey. How do you plan to overcome obstacles? Can you brainstorm some alternative pathways?
Involve others . As we’ve discussed earlier, family and friends can be invaluable. Not only do they help us generate ideas, but they are social resources that we can reach out to for support along the way.
Break them down where possible . Celebrating our wins along the way is the same as celebrating our progress towards a larger life goal. Whether that celebration takes place on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis will depend on your unique aims and the pathway you choose to follow. Nonetheless, research shows that they are critical for momentum and motivation (Amabile & Kramer, 2011).

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So, do you have a million things you want to accomplish? Or even just a couple of goals, but lots of milestones along the way? We don’t really need statistics to understand why writing them down adds some organization to the whole thing, but active planning can also boost our motivation.

Personal Strategic Planning

According to Brian Tracy, author of Goals! , getting from A to B is about personal strategic planning. Quite simply, his suggested approach takes organizational management principles and applies them in the personal realm.

Rather than aiming to maximize return on investment (ROI) as we would in corporate settings, we aim instead to boost our efficiency by reducing the physical, mental, and emotional energy we might waste on the journey. He calls it ‘return on energy’ (ROE).

The idea is to think in terms of human capital. If you like, we can think back to the generating pathways step we described earlier in Luthans et al.’s 3-pronged framework. When refining our pathways, we can think beyond just what’s feasible to reflect on what might also maximize our return on energy (ROE).

Unless walking to every EU country is a life goal in itself for you, might it not be more efficient to fly or take a train? Or, could you take a few extra days on your next business trip? Two very logistics-based examples, but hopefully they illustrate the premise of personal strategic planning.

Prioritizing Life Goals

Prioritization is about identifying the most personally important life goals you’ve designed and written down. The following might help (Collingwood, 2018):

After you’ve formalized them by writing them down, rank them on a scale of 1-5 or 1-10, or whatever works for you. As long as you systematically apply the same ranking system to all of them, the most important ones should stand out.
An alternative would be to categorize them first into whatever domains work best for them, then rank within each category. What’s your most important health goal? Career goal? The PDF goal-setting worksheets below are full of categories you might find useful, but you are unique, and there’s no one best way to go about it.
Is it feasible or realistic to focus on the top five goals? Or is three a more viable figure? Highlight, circle, or pick out the ones that are most worthy of your energy—what would make you happiest? What’s most meaningful to you personally, in terms of your values? (Interestingly, billionaire Warren Buffet would have you stick to the top five and avoid the rest.)
Get planning. What are the sub-goals you’ve identified? What resources will you need for each stage, and when will you need them? ‘Reverse engineering’ goals and working backward from the finish line is helpful for some people (Collingwood, 2018).
Find a good, but not necessarily the best time to start, as the latter might never come around. Then, use a planner to work it all out. When you’re scheduling, don’t forget celebrations as well as milestones.

Some useful planners include:

LifeTick – a free or paid online planning calendar;
GoalScape – which allows you to share your goals and create projects;
This free PDF , which is more of a planning tool than a calendar; or
Any of the free Full PDFs here from Passion Planner.

These life goals worksheets will hopefully be useful to you as a means of getting started.

1. Workbook for Goal-setting and Evidence-based Strategies for Success

Put together by Caroline Miller, The Ultimate Life List Guide author, this is an entire workbook about setting goals and staying on track. It is based on six concepts that come together as a strategy for designing goals and creating optimal conditions for success:

Finding what enables you to create a happy life;
Envisioning your best potential self, an intention which will motivate your actions;
Designing short- and longer-term life goals;
Cultivating an environment that facilitates your success;
Developing willpower and habits that support this; and
Encouraging a mindset conducive to long-term change.

3 particularly useful worksheets in here include:

The Mission and Purpose Worksheet – this guides you through creating your own personal purpose statement (p. 36);
The Evaluating Goals Worksheet – over several pages, you can assess how or whether your life goals meet certain criteria for success (p. 40); and
The Ifs, Ands, and Buts Worksheet – which focuses on overcoming obstacles (p. 67).

2. Goal Exploration Worksheet

Breaking down life goals into different areas can be helpful, and this Goal Exploration exercise provides you with 7 different categories that might stimulate your thinking. With useful prompts, a few tips, and some examples, the layout of this sheet includes spaces for 5-year, 1-year, and 1-month goals.

Social goals;
Career goals;
Physical goals;
Family goals;
Leisure goals;
Personality goals; and

3. Goal Setting Workbook

Starting on Page 7 of this Citrus College workbook , you’ll find useful information about long- and short-term goal-setting. There are brainstorming exercise and categories for your inspiration, such as:

I want to be…
I want to learn…
I want to give…

This is followed as you progress by questions about your goals:

“Are they achievable?”
“Does the goal come with an alternative?”
“Do I want to do what’s necessary to accomplish it?” and
“Is the goal compatible with my values?”

We write down our goals to formalize them in one respect, and in another, to give us a sense of personal accountability for their outcomes (Schlenker & Weigold, 1989). If we share those goals with others, we create even more accountability, as we’re ‘answerable’ to more than one person (Schlenker et al., 1994).

The first kind of accountability is internal, and psychologists suggest it motivate us to keep going if these goals are aligned with our personal values (Rutledge, 1998). This is all well and good, but how do we track and evaluate our progress?

Tracking Your Life Goals

First, as discussed, we can identify our goals and create clarity around them. Prioritizing them allows us to channel our focus on the top important goals, and one or more of the planners above will hopefully be useful for this.

We can then break down our larger, key goals into smaller sub-goals or objectives. These might be step-wise milestones, or we might have several alternative pathways running concurrently, but breaking down these goals allows us to plan better.

If you want to set deadlines or time frames for accomplishing each small sub-goal, feel free—this adds another layer of personal accountability and is commonly used in project management contexts.

Set realistic, sufficiently challenging time frames, and you’ll also benefit from a healthy amount of pressure— eustress , in other words (Brulé & Morgan, 2018; Mills et al., 2018).

When you have time-bound goals, therefore, you can better evaluate your progress. And from here, we can adapt or adjust our generated pathways accordingly to maximize our chances at success (Snyder, 2002).

Why the secret to success is setting the right goals – John Doerr

If it’s all a lot of information to take in at once—or if you’ve skipped ahead—here’s a neat recap. These goal-setting strategies and techniques draw from the literature we’ve mentioned already, starting with Locke and Latham’s work and moving on to what we know about motivation.

Let’s cover the techniques within the three-pronged strategy we discussed earlier for maximum relevance.

Goal Design

Based on what we know, the following techniques help us craft well-designed goals.

Set intrinsic life goals as well as extrinsic ones . This requires self-reflection on your personal values, as well as your psychological and self-fulfillment needs as a human being (Maslow, 1943). Aligning your goals with what you really consider important will make them more meaningful (Kasser and Ryan, 2001), and meaning is considered a key part of happiness in positive psychology (Seligman, 2004).
Set approach, rather than avoidance goals . Aim for positive outcomes rather than focusing your psychological, emotional, and physical energy on avoiding negative ones (Locke, 1968; Tracy, 2003; Locke & Latham 2006).
Make them clear and actionable . Ideally, you should be easily able to break these down into sub-goals after some thought on potential pathways. If you can create concrete steps that lead toward a positive vision of the future, it will be easier to start thinking about resources you might need (Luthans et al., 2006).
Make them challenging, but keep them realistic . When it comes to outcomes, excessively easy goals won’t motivate you enough and could be boring. Overly challenging aspirations, on the other hand, can lead to stress and overwhelm you (Locke, 1968; Luthans et al., 2006). Similarly, don’t rush yourself in terms of getting started if it’s not necessary, but don’t wait until the time is perfect, either.

Generating Pathways

These include some brainstorming techniques and ideas about creating the ideal conditions that support your goal pursuit (Miller & Frisch, 2009).

Brainstorm as many alternative pathways as you can . Think about all the potential ways you might go about achieving your goal and don’t be too quick to discount them. Give your creative brain a workout and record them as you go. This will keep you from forgetting them later down the line.
Identify the resources you’ll need . What is absolutely necessary for each step along the way? Then, what will make things easier for you? Consider people who might support you as well as more tangible resources (Emmons, 2003).
Plan out your progress if it helps . Think motivation and accountability, this time applying the eustress principle to the goal pursuit process rather than its outcomes (Frink & Ferris, 1998). Use a planner, an app, or whatever else you find most valuable, and don’t be afraid to adapt your pathway if it’s necessary.

Overcoming Obstacles

Here, some planning techniques and useful resources from elsewhere on this site, to help you stay on track.

Plan for potential obstacles . Part of being realistic means planning for contingencies (Luthans et al., 2006). What might stop you from pursuing one pathway and force you onto another? How can you avoid or overcome obstacles through proactive strategizing?
Use positive self-talk . Our self-talk is very powerful. Preparing proactively for worst-case scenarios helps counter pessimistic self-talk, but your perceived self-efficacy is also critical to goal accomplishment (Schunk, 1990). Hope is very important and positive self-talk plays a key role in overcoming obstacles (Snyder, 2002).
Develop resilience . Setbacks can take their toll emotionally and lead to disengagement (again, if we let them). It’s possible to develop your capacity to deal with setbacks through resilience training and exercises, so why not try some of these approaches?
Evaluate your progress . Remember that your priorities might change along the way, so evaluation is not necessarily about success or failure. If you like, tweak your goals—make them more or less challenging, or change their nature as you see fit.

But while there are real benefits to goal-setting, is the absence of goals really so terrible?

Essentially, this dives into a more complex philosophical debate. To put it succinctly, though, we can think of happiness as both subjective wellbeing ( SWB ) and eudaimonic wellbeing ( EWB )—or hedonic vs eudaimonic happiness .

The first is related to feelings of life satisfaction and the predominance of positive over negative affect, the second premises that life is about the pursuit of virtue and fulfillment of one’s own potential (Ryan & Deci, 2001; Diener et al., 2002).

What do you think?

Some apps will help you store your short-term goals in one place, and can be pretty handy if you’ve got objectives you’d like to stay on top of daily.

Goalify is an Android and iOs app that lets you log and review your objectives regularly. As well as sending you updates and reminders, you can compare your accomplishments against friends with identical goals. With this app, you can categorize, tweak, and get tips on how to better accomplish them. And let’s face it, gamification has its merits.

2. Coach.me Habit Tracker

This nifty app lets you do more than just list your goals—it’s pretty effective at keeping you accountable and is simple to use. You can log your targets and view your stats, ask questions of the community, and sync it with other gizmos. The free version is enough if you simply want to start creating a habit, but paid users can also get advice from pro coaches.

It’s only available for iOs devices, but Strides is quite popular nonetheless. This lets you stay on top of your progress for short-term or daily goals, with a calendar function and some more sophisticated stats. If you want to see your progress as averages or celebrate the small wins with time-bound targets, they are all easily accessible from one straightforward dashboard.

Here are some of the titles we have already mentioned, as well as a few more books that you might find insightful. Some are more ‘how to’-focused, and others cover the psychology of goal-setting theory.

Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide by Caroline Adams Miller and Dr. Michael Frisch ( Amazon )
Think Small: The Surprisingly Simple Ways to Reach Big Goals by Owain Service and Rory Gallagher ( Amazon )
Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want – Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible by Brian Tracy ( Amazon )
A Theory of Goal Setting & Task Performance by Edwin Locke, Gary Latham, Ken Smith, and Robert Wood ( Amazon )
New Developments in Goal Setting and Task Performance by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham ( Amazon )
Goal Setting: A Motivational Technique That Works! by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham ( Amazon )

17 Tools To Increase Motivation and Goal Achievement

These 17 Motivation & Goal Achievement Exercises [PDF] contain all you need to help others set meaningful goals, increase self-drive, and experience greater accomplishment and life satisfaction.

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If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.

Albert Einstein

By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands — your own.

Mark Victor Hansen

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

Robert Schuller

The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.

Michelle Obama

Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

William Jennings Bryan

You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.

C. S. Lewis

If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.

You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.

Edmund Hillary

A goal is a dream with its work boots on.

Rachel Hollis

You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.

Wayne Gretsky

Goals transform a random walk into a chase.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The important thing isn’t where you’ve been, or where you are, but where you want to go.

Dean Bokhari

Goals are the road maps that guide you to your destination.

Roy Bennett

An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding.

Robert Louis Stevenson

When you know what you want and you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it.

The question I ask myself like almost every day is, ‘Am I doing the most important thing I could be doing?’

Mark Zuckerberg

It doesn’t matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.

Brian Tracy

We all have dreams, but some merit more of our energy than others. When we reflect on the second type of aspiration along with our personal values, we’re already on the way to setting life goals. In this article, we have considered goal-setting theory and some actionable strategies that use positive psychology concepts to frame the whole concept.

We’ve also looked at how human nature leads to intrinsic goals, and how the whole idea fits into wellbeing. Have you discovered any ideas that you find useful? Or how do you motivate yourself to keep on track?

More importantly, why not share some of your life goals with us in the comments? Let’s get those ideas flowing!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free .

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Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13 (4), 249-275.
Sorenson, S. (2014). How employees’ strengths make your company stronger. Gallup Business Journal, February. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/167462/employees-strengths-company-stronger.aspx
Tracy, B. (2003). Goals!: How to get everything you want-faster than you ever thought possible . Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Vansonnenberg, E. (2011). Ready, Set, Goals! Retrieved from https://positivepsychologynews.com/news/emily-vansonnenberg/2011010315821

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3 Goal Achievement Exercises Pack

How to Set, and Achieve, Your Life Goals

The different types of life goals and how you can set yours..

Posted April 14, 2021 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

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Life goals are the desired states that people seek to obtain, maintain or avoid (Nair, 2003). Our lives include many different pieces so life goals can include relationship goals, career goals, financial goals, and more.

Why We Might Set Life Goals

Researchers believe that the reason we set life goals is to resolve "discontent" with aspects of our present situation. Indeed, we may want something in our lives to be different—our relationship, career, or health, for example. And indeed, the simple act of setting a goal makes it more likely that we will reach it.

How to Set Life Goals

Setting specific and slightly difficult goals—like "I will run a marathon by running a little further each day for a year"—tends to go better than setting vague or abstract goals, like "I'm going to be rich!" Commitment to the goal also seems to help us achieve it. And getting feedback from others and tracking our progress also help us achieve our goals (Locke & Latham, 2006).

To set effective life goals, we can use the "SMART" acronym. Although there are some variations in what SMART stands for (Rubin, 2002), here is one example:

S: Specific M: Meaningful A: Achievable R: Realistic T: Trackable (or time-based)

What Are Short-Term and Long-Term Life Goals?

Achieving easier, shorter-term goals can help us feel like we're making progress and motivate us to keep going towards long-term goals . That's why it can be helpful to break longer-term goals up into a bunch of short and mid-term goals—things that we could accomplish in an hour, day, or week. For example, if I want to go to college, I might study for the SAT one hour per day for several months. Over time, these short-term goals allow me to accomplish my longer-term goal.

Turning Life Goals Into Objectives

Most short-term goals can be broken down even further into objectives—or actionable parts. For example, if my goal is to get into college, I might plan to study an hour per day (a short-term goal), but what I do during that time would be to accomplish my objectives. I might complete 10 math problems, memorize 10 vocabulary words, and quiz myself each evening on my vocabulary works. Those would be my objectives.

Examples of Life Goals

Career Goals. Career goals are goals that have to do with your work or maybe even your purpose. Career goals might involve achieving a particular title, income, role, position, or employer.
Financial Goals. Financial goals might help us live our values, change our lifestyle, take care of our families, or even promote the well-being of others in some way.
Relationship Goals . Regardless of whether we are in a romantic relationship , we might have goals about the quality or function of our closest relationships.
Wellness Goals. Your life goals might include fitness, body, health, or emotional wellness goals—things you'd like to change to feel better or healthier.
Educational Goals. We might have a life goal of getting an education , perhaps as a precursor to pursuing a particular career.
Other Personal Life Goals. Most of us have other life goals unrelated to the big categories. For example, I have a goal of living mostly sustainably. What about you? What are your other life goals?

More examples:

Getting good at a hobby or sport
Spending more time doing your favorite things
Developing a new skill
Cultivating a soft skill like listening, resilience , or emotion regulation
Getting to know new people

Goal-Setting Tips

Create a list of goals.
For each goal, break it down into smaller steps.
Plan out how you'll take these smaller steps.
Think about how you'll overcome barriers that block your goals.
Be kind to yourself along the way.

Setting life goals can be good for us. If we take just a little more time to set the right goals in the right ways, we'll have a greater chance of reaching those goals and manifesting some of our dreams .

Adapted from an article published by The Berkeley Well-Being Institute .

Nair, K. S. (2003). Life goals: the concept and its relevance to rehabilitation. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17(2), 192-202.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2006). New directions in goal-setting theory. Current directions in psychological science, 15(5), 265-268.

Rubin, R. S. (2002). Will the real SMART goals please stand up. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 39(4), 26-27.

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. , is a consultant, writer, and expert on well-being technology.

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Setting and Achieving Goals Essay

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Introduction

Setting goals, tips on how to achieve goals.

One of the common things that all human beings have is that there are various goals that they would like to accomplish for themselves. These goals vary from person to person but their achievement brings about great joy to the individual. However, most people today have a tendency of going aimlessly in their quest to achieve their goals.

Young people are especially guilty of this as they set out to create their own paths in life. Aimlessness leads to failure and as such, young people are encouraged to have an aim in their lives and live towards that aim. It is my hope that this talk will empower you on how to live up to your aims and achieve your goals which will result in your success.

The first secret towards achieving goals is having them! Honest self –evaluation can help you set well defined goals to help you be what you want to be in life. As much as you would like to be realistic about setting your goals you should not be afraid to dream and set high goals for yourself.

For example, you may set a goal to have built your own house by the time you are 30years. With your goals in mind always remember that you are responsible for your own life and no one can realize your goals for you. Knowing that will give you the motivation you need to give your life the best shot as you work towards your goals.

Clear strategy would be called for at this point. How do you plan to achieve your goals? What are the stepping stones towards achieving your goals? What are you doing about them? In the goal to build your house, a major stepping stone would establishing a career that will enable you finance your goal. Your priorities must always be set right and give every stepping stone your best since it affects your goals, and of course pat yourself on the back when you succeed each step up it will be a plus on your motivation.

As time passes you should be cautious not to lose focus on your goals especially if we are working towards long term goals. You should hence add in your day to day schedule activities that will help you keep in mind and work towards your goals.

You could have a support group of people you share the same goals with, do a detailed research about your goals, and attend camps, conferences and seminars that will add to your knowledge concerning your goals, and you could even choose a role model whom you can emulate and who can challenge you to achieve your goals. For the house building goal, one could elicit the help of investment planners so as to be gain knowledge on how to realize the dream as well as stay focused.

The greatest enemy to achieving your goals which should be avoided at all costs is discouragement. Many lose their way towards achieving their goals because of this. You should never give in to that yes, you may have limitations in terms of money, skills, time, support and other resources but that is no excuse of not working towards your goals.

Assuming you get to 29years are still a long way from achieving your goal to acquire a house, you should realize that despite the odds, you need to stay focused. You can make adjustments to your goal to suit the reality. Hurdles along the way are common and you should never let your current situation discourage you.

Goals are the cornerstone of success. In conclusion, I encourage you all to prioritize and create time for the most important things in your life and avoid letting useless things overwhelm you. Commit yourself to achieving your goals and you will learn the joy and satisfaction that comes from attaining your purpose in life. Build your life around your goals they will shape who you are at the end of the day. Let your goals define you and bring about great success in your life.

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Goal Getting

Setting life goals: the path to fulfillment and success.

Have you ever felt like you’re drifting through life, unsure of where you’re headed or what you’re working towards? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us find ourselves caught up in the day-to-day hustle, losing sight of our bigger aspirations and dreams. But what if there was a way to change that? What if you could chart a course for your life that not only gives you direction but also fills you with purpose and excitement?

Enter the world of goal-setting . It’s more than just a self-help buzzword or a corporate strategy – it’s a powerful tool that can transform your life. By setting clear, meaningful goals, you’re not just planning for the future; you’re actively shaping it. You’re telling yourself and the world, “This is what I want to achieve, and I’m committed to making it happen.”

“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland

A roadmap for your life, measuring progress and personal growth, personal and professional goals, financial and lifestyle goals, the smart framework and beyond, visualization and documentation, accountability and support, the power of small steps, celebrating wins and building resilience, uncovering your core values, the art of goal-value alignment, the power of regular self-assessment, key takeaways, your turn: crafting your goal-setting masterpiece, parting thoughts: your journey awaits, the importance of goal-setting.

But why is goal-setting so important? Well, imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint. You might end up with four walls and a roof, but it probably won’t be the dream home you envisioned. In the same way, setting life goals gives you a blueprint for your future. It provides:

Focus: Helping you concentrate on what truly matters
Motivation: Giving you a reason to push forward, even when things get tough
Direction: Providing a clear path to follow in life’s journey

Goals provide a roadmap for your life. They help you answer the big questions: Where am I going? What do I want to achieve? Without goals, you might find yourself drifting, reacting to life rather than proactively shaping it.

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

This quote perfectly captures the importance of having a direction in life. Goals give you that direction, helping you make decisions that align with your long-term vision.

One of the most satisfying aspects of goal-setting is the ability to measure your progress. Goals provide benchmarks against which you can assess how far you’ve come. Think of it like a video game. The joy of playing comes not just from the final victory, but from leveling up along the way.

Regular reflection on your goals promotes personal growth. By assessing your progress, you can:

Identify areas where you’re excelling
Recognize skills you need to develop
Adjust your strategies as needed
Learn from both successes and setbacks

Types of Goals: Crafting a Well-Rounded Life

When it comes to setting goals, one size doesn’t fit all. Just as your life is multifaceted, your goals should span various aspects of your existence. Let’s explore different types of goals you might consider, helping you create a balanced and fulfilling life plan.

Personal goals are all about you – your growth, your happiness, and your well-being. They’re the foundation for everything else in your life. Consider setting goals related to:

Health and wellness (e.g., regular exercise, improved diet, better sleep)
Hobbies and self-care (e.g., learning a musical instrument, reading more)
Personal growth and learning (e.g., learning a new language, taking courses)

Professional goals focus on your career and work life. They can include:

Career advancement (e.g., earning a promotion, starting a business)
Skill acquisition (e.g., mastering new software, improving public speaking)
Networking and professional relationships (e.g., attending industry events, finding a mentor)

Financial goals are crucial for long-term stability and opening up opportunities. Consider goals like:

Building an emergency fund
Saving for major purchases or investments
Managing and reducing debt

Lifestyle goals encompass your relationships and life experiences. These might include:

Building and maintaining meaningful relationships
Travel and new experiences
Personal challenges and milestones (e.g., running a marathon, writing a book)

Remember, you don’t need to set goals in every category right away. Start with areas that resonate most with you or where you feel you need the most improvement. The key is to create a balanced set of goals that reflects your values and aspirations.

Strategies for Goal-Setting: Turning Dreams into Reality

Now that we’ve explored different types of goals, let’s dive into how to set them effectively. The right strategies can turn vague wishes into concrete, achievable objectives.

One of the most popular and effective goal-setting strategies is the SMART framework. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework helps transform vague intentions into clear, actionable goals.

Let’s break this down with an example. Instead of a vague goal like “I want to get fit,” a SMART goal would be: “I will run a 5K race in under 30 minutes by the end of this year.” This goal is:

Specific: It clearly states what you want to achieve (run a 5K race)
Measurable: You can track your running times
Achievable: Assuming you’re in reasonable health, this is attainable with training
Relevant: It aligns with a desire for better fitness
Time-bound: You have a deadline (the end of the year)

Visualization is a powerful tool in goal-setting and achievement. It involves creating a clear, detailed mental image of your desired outcome. Spend time each day visualizing yourself achieving your goals. Make it as vivid as possible: What does success look and feel like? Who is there with you? What emotions are you experiencing?

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

This practice not only motivates you but also helps your brain recognize opportunities that align with your goals. Consider creating a vision board as a visual representation of your goals. Place it somewhere you’ll see it daily to keep you focused and motivated.

Writing down your goals is another crucial strategy. There’s something powerful about putting pen to paper. It makes your goals more tangible and increases your commitment to achieving them. When writing your goals, be clear and concise, use positive language, and phrase them in the present tense as if you’re already achieving them. Review your written goals daily to keep them fresh in your mind.

Sharing your goals with others can significantly increase your chances of success. Tell a friend, family member, or mentor about your goals. This makes your commitment more real, provides external motivation, and creates a support system.

Consider finding an accountability partner or joining a group of like-minded individuals. Regular check-ins can help you stay on track, get advice when you’re stuck, and celebrate your progress. Remember, the people you surround yourself with can have a big impact on your success. Choose wisely!

Keeping the Fire Burning: Motivation and Obstacle-Busting

You’ve set your goals, and you’re raring to go. But let’s face it: the path to success is rarely a smooth ride. You’ll hit bumps, face detours, and sometimes feel like you’re running on empty. Don’t sweat it—that’s all part of the journey. Let’s explore some strategies to keep your motivation tank full and navigate around those pesky roadblocks.

Ever heard the saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”? The same goes for your goals. Take that big, audacious goal of yours and slice it up:

Identify your end game
Map out the major milestones
Break each milestone into weekly tasks
Set daily mini-goals

This approach is like a motivation hack: it keeps overwhelm at bay, provides a clear roadmap, and serves up frequent doses of accomplishment. Focus on conquering today’s mini-goal, and before you know it, you’ll be looking back at a mountain of progress.

Celebrating your wins , no matter how small, is crucial for maintaining motivation. Each step forward deserves recognition. It boosts your confidence, reinforces positive behavior, and provides motivation to continue.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey

Building resilience is key to overcoming obstacles. Here are some strategies:

Reframe setbacks: Instead of “I failed,” try “I found a way that doesn’t work”
Practice self-compassion: Talk to yourself with kindness and understanding
Develop a growth mindset: See challenges as opportunities to learn and grow
Stay flexible: Be willing to adjust your approach if something isn’t working

Remember, every successful person has faced obstacles. It’s not about avoiding challenges, but about how you respond to them.

Aligning Your North Star: Self-Reflection and Goal Harmony

You’ve set your goals, you’re working on staying motivated, but there’s one more crucial piece to this puzzle: making sure your goals truly resonate with who you are and what you value. Let’s dive into the art of self-reflection and goal alignment – it’s like giving your ambitions a compass check to ensure you’re heading in the right direction.

Before you can align your goals, you need to know what you’re aligning them with. Enter: your core values. Here are some exercises to help uncover your values:

The Desert Island Test: Imagine you’re stranded on a desert island. Besides basic survival needs, what would you miss most?
The Eulogy Exercise: Imagine what you’d want people to say about you at your funeral. What qualities and achievements would you want them to highlight?
The Peak Experiences Analysis: Think about the times in your life when you felt most alive and fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? What made these experiences so meaningful?

Your values are like the roots of a tree – they provide stability and nourishment to everything above ground. When your goals align with your values, you’re more likely to feel fulfilled as you pursue them, motivation comes more naturally, and decision-making becomes clearer.

Now that you’ve got a handle on your values, it’s time to see how your goals measure up. Take each of your major goals and ask:

How does this goal reflect my core values?
Will achieving this goal bring me closer to living my values?
If there’s misalignment, how can I adjust the goal to better fit my values?

When your goals and values are in sync, you’ll feel a deeper sense of purpose, the journey becomes as rewarding as the destination, and you’re more resilient in the face of obstacles – your ‘why’ is crystal clear.

Goal-setting isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. It’s more like tending a garden – it needs regular care and sometimes, a bit of pruning. Schedule regular check-ins with yourself. Maybe it’s monthly, quarterly, or on your birthday. During these sessions:

Review your goals and progress
Reflect on how you feel about each goal
Consider any changes in your life or values
Adjust your goals as needed

Remember, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress and creating a life that feels authentically yours. As you work through this process, be kind to yourself. You’re doing the deep work that many people never attempt.

The Grand Finale: Your Roadmap to a Life Well-Lived

We’ve explored the nooks and crannies of goal-setting, from understanding why it matters to aligning our ambitions with our deepest values. Now, it’s time to tie it all together and send you off with a roadmap for your own goal-setting adventure.

Goals are your life’s GPS: They give you direction, purpose, and a way to measure your progress.
Variety is the spice of life… and goals: A well-rounded life needs a well-rounded set of goals.
SMART goals are, well, smart: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals are your best bet for success.
Visualization and writing help: See your success in your mind’s eye and put it down on paper.
Accountability is your secret weapon: Sharing your goals can give you the extra push you need.
Break it down to build it up: Tackling your goals in small, manageable chunks keeps overwhelm at bay.
Celebrate the small stuff: Every step forward deserves recognition.
Resilience is your superpower: Setbacks are just setups for comebacks.
Align for the win: When your goals match your values, you’re unstoppable.

Now, it’s time for you to take the reins. Here’s a step-by-step guide to kickstart your goal-setting journey:

Dream big: Set aside time to imagine what you want your life to look like in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years.
Get SMART: Transform your dreams into SMART goals.
Write it out: Put your goals down in vivid detail.
Break it down: Identify the first three steps for each goal.
Find your cheerleaders: Share your goals with supportive people.
Schedule check-ins: Set reminders for regular self-assessment.
Create a vision board: Make a visual representation of your goals.
Start now: Choose one small action you can take today towards one of your goals.

As we wrap up, remember this: goal-setting isn’t about creating a rigid, unchangeable future. It’s about giving yourself a direction, a purpose, and a way to grow. Your goals will evolve as you do, and that’s not just okay – it’s fantastic. It means you’re learning, adapting, and becoming more YOU.

There will be days when you feel like you’re conquering the world, and days when you wonder why you started this journey in the first place. Both are normal, both are valuable, and both are part of the beautiful mess we call personal growth.

So, as you step out into your goal-setting adventure, keep this in mind: you’ve got this. You have the tools, you have the knowledge, and most importantly, you have the power to shape your life into something extraordinary.

Now, go out there and start turning those dreams into goals, and those goals into reality. Your future self is cheering you on, and so are we. Here’s to your success, your growth, and the amazing journey ahead.

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How to Write an Awesome Essay About Your Career Goals

Before you begin, ask yourself a few key questions like:
What are my short-term and long-term career goals?
Where do I see myself in ten years?
What events in my life have led me to have these goals?
What major will help me reach my goals?
What skills do I need to reach my goals?
What impact do I want to have on society?

Career Goals Essay Template

Need more inspiration.

After you brainstorm the responses to these questions, look for common themes, or pick out the most interesting stories. You can build your main essay “thesis” or idea around this.

Once you’ve got the main idea, create an outline to put your ideas into essay format. This will give you a general idea of structure.

You can use the career essays template below to give you some ideas. But remember that some rules are meant to be broken, so don’t be afraid to be innovative and think outside the box!

Also, when you’re done, head over to Going Merry to apply for the Career Goals scholarship essay bundle (one essay, one application, multiple scholarships!). You might as well make that essay count. Sign up for Going Merry to apply for scholarships more efficiently.

Here’s a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown:

Paragraph 1 : Establish the main theme of what you’re going to talk about. It should also grab the reader’s attention. For example, instead of starting your essay with something generic (e.g. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a zoologist), get creative with it! Try something like My greatest memory as a young girl was going to the zoo for the first time or While most kids play house or school, I always wanted to play zookeeper.

Paragraph 2 : Elaborate on what inspired your career goals. Perhaps it was a relative, a TV show, or simply an experience that you had. Remember that old writing adage, “Show, don’t tell.” In other words, try to demonstrate your interest with story or description.

Paragraph 3 : Discuss your short-term career goals and your intended major. How will your intended major help you reach these goals? What skills do you need to learn to reach them? At the end of the paragraph, try discussing how your short-term goals can help you achieve your long-term goals.

Paragraph 4 : Focus on your long-term goals and the impact that you hope to have on society. If you’re not sure what your long-term goals are, don’t sweat it; they’ll probably change anyways. You can instead focus on the difference you’d like to make overall. And don’t worry too much about the size of the impact…remember that just doing what you’re truly passionate about has a massive impact on those around you.

The last paragraph is your conclusion. You can use this paragraph to summarize what you discussed in the previous few paragraphs. If you want to be even more creative, try ending your essay with a question for your readers or a new insight. Good luck!

And now that you’re ready with that essay, put it to good use! You can recycle that same essay, when applying for the Career Goals Scholarship Bundle. We’ve joined together multiple scholarships (all requesting essays on career goals), into just ONE simple application! See more info here , or just sign up to get going.

Check out examples from other students just like you. Here are links to some great career goal essay examples:

Example 1
Example 2
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Or maybe you’re looking for help with an academic goals essay — we’ve got you covered there too.

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics !

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Build a Growth Mindset

Improve your emotional intelligence, develop mental toughness, strengthen your willpower, focus on intrinsic motivations, set achievable goals, nurture traits linked to high potential, cultivate strong social support, avoid burnout.

Success is often defined as the ability to reach your goals in life, whatever those goals may be. In some ways, a better word for success might be attainment, accomplishment, or progress. It is not necessarily a destination but a journey that helps develop the skills and resources you need to thrive.

At a Glance

There are many different tactics for how to be successful in life, but the strategy that works best for you may depend on what success means to you . If you think of success as doing well at work or earning a high salary, your professional goals and accomplishments will take priority.

While professional success can be one piece of the puzzle, it leaves out many other important areas of life. Family, romantic relationships, academics, and athletics are just a few areas where people may strive for success. Your definition of success may vary, but many might define it as being fulfilled, happy, safe, healthy, and loved.

While there is no single right way to be successful, you can improve your chances by building a growth mindset, improving your emotional intelligence, developing mental toughness, and strengthening your willpower, among other strategies.

Because goals are self-created, what people view as success can vary depending on their needs, goals, and situation. There may not be a perfect combination of ingredients that can guarantee success. Still, there are some basic steps you can follow that can improve your chances of being successful in life, love, work, or whatever happens to be important to you.

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Research by psychologist Carol Dweck suggests that there are two basic mindsets that influence how people think about themselves and their abilities: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset .

People who possess a fixed mindset believe that things such as intelligence are static and unchangeable. Those with a fixed mindset believe that success isn't a result of hard work—it's simply a consequence of innate talents.

Because they believe that such talents are something people are either born with or without, they tend to give up more easily in the face of a challenge. They quit when things do not come easily because they believe that they lack the inborn skills needed to excel.

Those who have a growth mindset, on the other hand, feel that they can change, grow, and learn through effort. People who believe that they are capable of growth are more likely to achieve success. When things get tough, they look for ways to improve their skills and keep working toward success.

People with a growth mindset believe that they have control of their life, while those with a fixed mindset believe that things are out of their control.

What can you do to build a growth mindset?

Believe that your efforts matter . Rather than thinking their abilities are fixed or stuck, people who have a growth mindset believe that effort and hard work can lead to meaningful growth.
Learn new skills . When faced with a challenge, they look for ways to develop the knowledge and skills that they need to overcome and triumph.
View failures as learning experiences . People with growth mindsets don't believe that failure is a reflection of their abilities. Instead, they view it as a valuable source of experience from which they can learn and improve. "That didn't work," they might think, "so this time I'll try something a little different."

Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares an exercise that can help you introduce a healthy habit into your life or get rid of a bad habit that's been holding you back.

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Overall intelligence has long been believed to be one factor contributing to success in different areas of life, but some experts suggest that emotional intelligence may actually matter even more. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand, utilize, and reason with emotions. Emotionally intelligent people are able to understand not only their own emotions, but those of others as well.

To improve your emotional intelligence:

Pay attention to your own emotions . Focus on identifying what you are feeling and what is causing those feelings.
Manage your emotions . Step back and try to view things with an impartial eye. Avoid bottling up or repressing your feelings, but look for healthy and appropriate ways of dealing with what you are feeling.
Listen to others. This not only involves hearing what they are saying, but also paying attention to nonverbal signals and body language.

Mental toughness refers to the resilience to carry on and continue trying even in the face of obstacles. People who possess this mental strength see challenges as opportunities. They also feel that they have control over their own destiny, are confident in their abilities to succeed, and are committed to finishing what they start.

What can you do to improve your mental toughness and increase your chances of being successful in life?

Believe in yourself . Cut out negative self-talk and look for ways to stay positive and self-encouraging.
Keep trying . Even when things seem impossible or setbacks keep holding you back, focus on ways that you can develop your skills and keep soldiering forward. One of the key habits of successful people is always looking at setbacks or failures as learning opportunities.
Care for yourself . Staying strong also means that you treat yourself with kindness. Check in with yourself regularly to ensure you have the things you need to thrive.
Look for growth opportunities . Learning more about yourself and challenging yourself to try new things can provide opportunities for self-discovery.

In a long-running longitudinal study, psychologists followed a group of children who were identified by their teachers as highly intelligent. As they compared how these subjects fared throughout childhood and into adulthood, researchers found that those who ultimately were the most successful in life shared some key characteristics, including perseverance and willpower.

These characteristics tend to be part of an individual's overall personality, but they are also something you can improve. Delayed gratification , learning to persist in the face of challenges, and waiting for the rewards of your hard work can often be the key to success in life.

Strategies you can use to improve your willpower include:

Distraction . For example, if you are trying to lose weight but are having a difficult time staying away from your favorite snacks, distracting yourself during your moments of weakness can be an effective way to avoid giving in to temptation.
Practice . Willpower is something you can build, but it takes time and effort. Start by making small goals that require will power to achieve, such as avoiding sugary snacks. As you build your ability to use your will power to achieve such small goals, you may find that your willpower is also stronger when working on much larger goals.

What is it that motivates you the most? Do you find that the promise of external rewards keeps you reaching for your goals, or is it the more personal, intrinsic motivators that keep you feeling inspired? While extrinsic rewards such as money, awards, and praise can be helpful, many people find that they are most motivated when they are doing things for personal satisfaction.

If you are doing things because you enjoy them, because you find them meaningful, or because you enjoy seeing the effects of your work, then you are driven by intrinsic motivations. Research has shown that while incentives can be a better predictor of some types of performance, intrinsic motivators tend to be better at predicting performance quality.

While it is often the external motivators that get people started, it is the internal motivators that kick in and keep people going in order to maintain those new behaviors.

What can you do to boost your sense of intrinsic motivation?

Challenge yourself . Pursuing a goal that is achievable but not necessarily easy, is a great way to increase motivation to succeed. Challenges can keep you interested in a task, improve your self-esteem, and offer feedback on areas you can improve on. Choosing a slightly challenging task will help motivate you to get started—it feels exciting!
Stay curious . Look for things that grab your attention and that you want to learn more about.
Take control . It can be difficult to stay intrinsically motivated to pursue a goal if you don't feel that you have any real influence over the outcome. Look for ways that you can take an active role.
Don't fear competition . There might be other people trying to reach the same goals as you, but this doesn't mean you should give up. Don't compare your progress or journey to anyone else's. You can look to others for motivation and inspiration, but remember that we all have different paths.

Successful people know that they need to start by having attainable goals to achieve. These goals are not necessarily easy to reach, but by having something to aim for, you will be better able to move forward and overcome obstacles.

When setting goals :

Be as specific as possible : Choosing a goal like "I'm going to spend 20 minutes a day learning a new language" is more achievable than setting a general goal like "I'm going to learn French."
Break your goal into smaller steps : Even if you select a specific goal, it can often seem difficult to achieve. Try breaking it into smaller steps that allow you to focus on moving forward without becoming overwhelmed.
Reward progress : Recognize your successes along the way and allow yourself to enjoy your accomplishments.

One of the biggest reasons people don't follow through on their goals [is] because they aren't what THEY want to do. Make sure your goals align with your personal values and needs, not what you 'think' you should do.

Psychologists have long attempted to link specific traits or personality characteristics to success in life and work. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one widely used assessment that is often utilized by businesses to screen job candidates. However, research often fails to show that the MBTI actually correlates to performance.

According to some more recent research, there are certain traits that tend to be consistently tied to success. Researchers Ian MacRae and Adrian Furnham have identified six key traits that can play a role in how well people do at work. However, they note that there are optimal levels of these traits. Too little of these characteristics can hinder success, but so can having too much.

If you are trying to learn how to be successful in life, consider what you can do to nurture these key traits:

Conscientiousness

Conscientious people consider the effects of their actions. They also consider how other people will react and feel. You can nurture this trait by:

Thinking about the consequences of actions
Considering other people's perspectives

Accepting of Ambiguity

Life is full of situations that are not always clear. People with a great deal of potential for success are better able to accept this ambiguity. Rather than being rigid and inflexible, they are ready to adapt when the unexpected comes their way. You can learn to embrace ambiguity by:

Challenging your perspectives and considering opinions and ideas other than your own
Not fearing the unfamiliar
Being willing to change
Valuing diversity

Capable of Adjustment

In addition to being able to accept ambiguity, success often hinges on the ability to quickly adjust to change. You can nurture this ability to adjust by:

Reframing difficult situations, to see them as opportunities to learn and grow rather than simply obstacles to live through
Being open to change; when plans or situations change, step back and look at ways to cope

The world's most successful people often exemplify great courage. They are willing to take risks, even in the face of potential failure. Research suggests that courageous people utilize positive emotions to overcome fear. You can improve your tolerance of risk by:

Quelling negative emotions and focusing on more positive feelings
Balancing risk with common sense; being cautious and pragmatic can also pay off, depending upon the situation

People who are successful tend to be curious about the world around them. They are always eager to learn more, including new knowledge and skills. You can cultivate your sense of curiosity by:

Relating tasks to your interests: If you find filing boring, for example, look for a more efficient way to categorize the information to play to your strengths as an organizer.
Learning new things

Competitiveness

Successful people are able to utilize competition to motivate, but avoid falling prey to jealousy. You can nurture a healthy sense of competition by:

Focusing on your own improvements; rather than worry about being the best at something, pay attention to your progress
Being happy when others succeed

Some personality traits and types may be better suited for certain jobs than others. However, no specific personality trait can guarantee success, nor can being low in that trait doom someone to failure.

While there are differences in opinion on just how much personality can be altered , nurturing some of these high potential traits might help you develop skills that can serve you well in many different aspects of your life.

Doing things alone can be difficult, but having a strong social support system can make things easier. Different types of social support can be important for success.

Emotional support can provide the comfort, security, and empathy you need as you face challenges.
Esteem support can boost your confidence and encourage you to keep going.
Informational support can provide mentorship, advice, and other necessary resources to reach your goals.
Tangible support can help you in active and practical ways. This might involve someone helping you perform a task or taking care of the task for you.

Having even one close person in your life that you feel you can go to in any circumstance is more helpful for your relational well-being than having 10 friends who are surface level. It's about quality, not quantity.

Mentors, friends, co-workers, and family members can cheer you on when things get tough and even offer advice and assistance that can help you improve your chances for success.

Burnout can happen when you are exposed to chronic stress . It can seriously impede success and lead to exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced performance.

Reduced motivation makes it harder to stick to your goals and can make you feel apathetic and uninterested.

Self-care strategies, such as getting enough sleep and engaging in healthy eating, can relieve some stress. But addressing burnout often requires getting to the bottom of the issue that is causing the problem.

Sometimes, this might mean reassessing your goals. If your goals are creating too much stress or if you are trying to achieve too much too fast, it can be a recipe for burnout. Look for ways to reduce stress, whether that involves shifting your goals, changing your plans, or even doing something more significant like moving somewhere else or changing jobs.

Keep in Mind

There is no single measure of success, and certainly no single answer for how to be successful in life. Yet by looking at some of the habits of successful people, you can learn new tactics and strategies to implement in your own daily life. Cultivate and nurture these abilities, and over time you may find that you are better able to reach your goals and achieve the success you want in life.

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Passion doesn’t always come easily. Discover your inner drive and find your true purpose in life.

From learning how to be your best self to navigating life’s everyday challenges.

Discover peace within today’s chaos. Take a moment to notice what’s happening now.

Gain inspiration from the lives of celebrities. Explore their stories for motivation and insight into achieving your dreams.

Where ordinary people become extraordinary, inspiring us all to make a difference.

Take a break with the most inspirational movies, TV shows, and books we have come across.

From being a better partner to interacting with a coworker, learn how to deepen your connections.

Take a look at the latest diet and exercise trends coming out. So while you're working hard, you're also working smart.

Sleep may be the most powerful tool in our well-being arsenal. So why is it so difficult?

Challenges can stem from distractions, lack of focus, or unclear goals. These strategies can help overcome daily obstacles.

Unlocking your creativity can help every aspect of your life, from innovation to problem-solving to personal growth.

How do you view wealth? Learn new insights, tools and strategies for a better relationship with your money.

Unlock Your Full Potential: The Ultimate Guide to Setting and Achieving Life Goals

Setting clear life goals is vital as they help give you a sense of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose in all you do..

In life, many people have a list of things they dream of and hope to accomplish.

Whether they are small goals, such as making up the bed in the morning before going for a morning jog, or larger goals, such as opening up a store, there are many possible life goals at your reach.

Let's take a look at a handful of ways you can better understand what life goals are, what goes into them, and how to best achieve those goals for personal development, well-being, and what you deem as a successful existence.

What Exactly are Life Goals?

As defined by K P Sivaraman Nair, the author of Life Goals: The Concept and its Relevance to Rehabilitation, published in the Clinical Rehabilitation scholarly journal, life goals are desires that people hope to receive in life, upkeep, or avoid as they continue their quest in life as it pertains to what they want to accomplish in life.

Because people's perspectives vary depending on what stage of their lives they are in, life goals can be broad.

These kinds of life goals can include things such as the career sector, romantic or platonic relationships, fitness, and financial goals, to name some.

Why are Life Goals Essential to Set in Life?

Life goals are generally things that bring us joy, are interested in exploring, and we may have a brief understanding of how to achieve them.

Setting clear goals is vital as they help give you a sense of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose in all that you do — and that's a beautiful thing!

Goal Setting Helps Bring Transparency to Our Behaviors

As American psychologist Edwin Locke states in his Theory of Goal-Setting from the late 1960s, goal-setting correlates with motivation and task performance.

Essentially, the definitive and challenging goals, insight, and feedback promote more effective outcomes in seeing the aspirations through.

It’s worth noting that just setting goals won’t lead to desired results unless they are actioned. But they can still give us something to commit to.

If you want to get a new luxury apartment, it probably won’t be the wisest decision to break your lease or not save up enough money before you make that leap.

Still, acknowledging that this is something you want to do will help you choose some appropriate steps to get there.

Setting Goals Can Bring Joy into Your Life

If you have goals that are set on values you wish to attain, they will be worthwhile and meaningful.

Striving for something more, finding meaning, and a sense of purpose happens to be key element in the happiness theory within positive psychology. The “M” in “meaning” is also the word in the acronym PERMA, a model for well-being by Martin Seligman .

Alongside positive emotion, relationships, engagement, and accomplishment, the theory encompasses aspects that would contribute to an ideal life.

Life goals give you the ability to pursue the most authentic aspirations of your choosing, which will lead to feeling triumphant when you get there.

Goal-Setting Encourages Strength

Once you think about what matters to you, you can focus on your inner strengths and passions.

According to studies, understanding and then anchoring those strengths give your confidence a much-needed boost. It can even encourage feelings of good health, well-being, and satisfaction in life.

How can you find and set practical life goals?

The key to making the most out of your life goals is to think about what you want to achieve and then commit to putting effort and time into it.

Here are some theories and objectives on how you can begin to make that happen.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals Theory

The theory of S.M.A.R.T. goals stemmed from author George T. Doran in a 1981 paper published in Management Review , which was called There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives .

Initially utilized in business situations, it expanded outside of that realm, becoming a popular goal-setting system for self-improvement.

S.M.A.R.T is an acronym that is aptly named. It’s an advanced approach to setting goals that are developed to get results in an achievable way without having to sacrifice your ambition.

Below is what the acronym stands for:

S - Specific

M- Meaningful

A - Achievable

R - Realistic

T- Trackable (time-frame objectives)

Check our previous report on the S.M.A.R.T. Goals for a more in-depth analysis.

Identifying Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

It is generally recommended that you set long-term and short-term goals. Short-term goals —which can be broken into steps – are easier to achieve, which gives much-needed motivation to grapple with longer-term goals.

Having a clear understanding of the exact steps you'll need to take to get to your desires, you're more likely to reach them.

Examples of Short-Term Goals that can lead to Long-Term Goals

Often, it’s great to get a glimpse of some of those short-term goals that are materializing into long-term goals. Here are some that can inspire you below.

Job and Work Goals and Higher Learning Goals

Nothing is wrong with wanting to elevate your position at work or transition into something else.

You can take virtual courses from EdX or Coursera or apply to a university, read a book, or watch a video to hone in on skills and talk to someone in your desired career to see what potential internship and full-time opportunities are out there for you.

Fitness and Diet Goals

Health is wealth. Consider going to the gym once or twice per week to build your confidence, cut out as much sugar and processed foods as possible, and start eating healthier by incorporating fruits and vegetables, and other sources of protein.

Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, proper daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids daily for men and roughly 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids daily for women.

Other Examples of Key Personal Life Goals to Help You Live a Balanced, Purposeful, and Happy Life

Explore a city or country of your dreams.

Whether you want to set your sights on a trip to Los Angeles, California, Montego Bay, Jamaica, or Mykonos, Greece, get ready to embark on a journey to a place you’ve always fantasized about.

Expedia and Hopper are great websites to check out to help you find great hotels and attractions at prices that fit your vacation criteria.

Have a Clear Idea about the Relationships You Want

In life, you most likely have relationship goals. Or want to experience them.

Although the goals can be long-term or short-term, the primary characteristic they should have is a possibility.

You are going to want to tap into goal-setting as a way to grow and strengthen your own relationship goals; it’s best to set love goals that are measurable and feel achievable and optimistic for both of you when it comes to maintaining your relationship.

If the relationship still needs some work, you should consider a relationship counselor.

A website such as Regain , which helps match you with a counselor that can help give you tools to enrich the relationship, boost connection and intimacy, and lead you in the right direction,

And if you are single but are looking for a companion or committed relationship, consider signing up for a dating app or going to singles events in your area.

RELATED: Why Setting Relationship Goals Is Important – And How to Do It

Start the business of your dreams.

Whether that is a hamburger restaurant, hair salon, or cosmetics store, start planting the seeds for a business endeavor you’ve always wanted to delve into.

Certainly, some people are lucky enough to have the opportunity to drop into their laps, while others have to work a little harder to achieve those goals. Still, a little determination and faith in what you want will make the process even smoother.

Websites like Zen Business and Lifehack are filled with articles that can give you tips and tricks.

Reconnect With Old Friends

Jobs, distance, and life pressures can sometimes keep us away from some quality time with good friends.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule a dinner or cafe run with them if there was genuine care and bond for one another in the past.

Become Debt Free and Other Financial Goals

You can save yourself a few extra dollars by avoiding buying something you don’t need, doing side hustles, make passive income such as writing an e-book or creating a course.

You may also be interested in investing in assets or the stock market so you can see your money grow.

Who wouldn’t want to have more disposable income and clear debts?!

Retire from Work Early

If you are someone who wants to retire early to travel, set aside time for passion projects, or simply are over the everyday workday.

To encourage this leap, you will need to make adjustments to your current spending budget, calculate your yearly retirement spending, estimate total savings needs, invest for growth, and monitor your expenses, to name some.

Overcome Your Deepest, Darkest Fears

Overcoming fears can be extremely difficult. In the United States, around 19 million people have one or more phobias that range from mild to severe.

And in Canada, one in every 10 people has phobias.

Although this is challenging to overcome, let alone think about it, it is definitely worth the amount of effort it may take to free yourself from the feelings.

The ultimate goal should embody the goal of complete fearlessness.

Figure out what fears are limiting you at this very moment and start to work on them today.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and a dose of meditation give your confidence the spark it needs.

Become a Mentor to Someone

If you have great expertise in an area, it’s a great idea to share those skills and knowledge with the world.

Mentoring someone is a fantastic way to encourage growth and opportunities to teach others and yourself.

Learn as Many Languages as You Can

Mastering more than one language is an incredible goal to accomplish in life. You learn a valuable skill to share with others around you while boosting more opportunities to venture out and communicate with so many different cultures.

Clean Up Your Home

A cramped and cluttered space promotes a distracted mind. To combat this, get rid of all the spare boxes, papers, and other items that you don’t need and tidy up your home.

Some of the things you don’t want or need in your life can also be donated to local charities or thrift stores in your area.

Practice More Mindfulness

Positive life goals are focused on helping you get the absolute most out of your time on this planet. And living a fruitful life requires an understanding of how to live in the present moment.

That's where mindfulness comes in.

As noted by Psychology Today , mindfulness is defined as "a state of active, open attention to the present. This state is described as observing one's thoughts and feelings without judging them as good or bad."

It's so easy to overthink everything you've done wrong and stay harboring thoughts about the past. And when you continue to focus on what you feel are your biggest disappointments, you forget to live in the now.

Take more authority in your life by being more mindful of yourself at the current moment.

Check out these mindfulness tips we've reported on here.

The Top 3 YouTube Channels That Can Inspire You on Your Journey

Sometimes, you may need to see an extra dose of inspiration. Check out these life goals and motivation YouTube channels listed below.

1. ModernHealthMonk

ModernHealthMonk is run by a man named Alex, who is passionate about health and wellness goals as it pertains to lifestyle.

Currently experiencing and even fixing chronic health illnesses, such as lower back and knee pain, Alex shares his tips with viewers so they can take advantage and improve themselves on their health journey.

2. Struthless

Campbell Walker - also known as “Struthless” – is an Australian content creator and illustrator with over 932,000.

His entertaining and niche channel expertly combines humor, art, and bluntness while addressing social commentary as it pertains to politics and lifestyle choices.

3. Project Life Mastery

Brought to you by Stefan James of Project Life Mastery, he takes his nearly 1.3 million viewers on a journey of self-discovery as he shares his top strategies for mastering and living life completely.

Sharing tips for being motivated, gaining success, making money online, changing your beliefs and mindset for the better, and increasing happiness, his channel is worth checking out.

40 Quotes to Help You Feel Inspired and Stay the Course

As you set your short-term and long-term life goals , here are some quotes to help inspire you to stay motivated on your course.

From the words of prolific poet Maya Angelou to Oprah Winfrey to Serena Williams and many other inspiring thinkers, feel free to print them out to read or write them down on sticky notes and place them on your mirror or laptop to give you that extra push each day!

1. "Everyone's dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard." — Serena Williams

2. " You can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will." — Stephen King

3. "If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes." — Andrew Carnegie

4. "People often say I have so much energy, that I never stop; but that's what it takes to accomplish your goals." – Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson

5. "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." – Tony Robbins

6. "Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground." – Theodore Roosevelt

7. "We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in." — Arianna Huffington

8. "It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela

9. "I love the challenge of starting at zero every day and seeing how much I can accomplish." ― Martha Stewart

10. "What I know for sure is this: The big secret in life is that here is no big secret. Whatever your goal for this year is, you can get there - as long as you're willing to be honest with yourself about the preparation and work involved. There are no back doors, no free rides. There's just you, this moment, and a choice." — Oprah Winfrey

11. "Once a positive goal is chosen, you should decide to pursue it all the way to the end. Even if it is not realized, at least there will be no regret." — Dalai Lama

12. "As soon as I accomplish one goal, I replace it with another one. I try not to get too far ahead of myself. I just say to myself, 'All right, well, I'd like to headline a tour,' and then when I get there, we'll see what my next goal is." — Taylor Swift

13. "If you spend a lot of time thinking about your problems, they'll grow bigger and stronger. Is that what you want? Of course not! Instead, focus on your goals. Start your day with them at the front of your mind, and use notes to recall them strategically throughout your day." — Les Brown

14. "I'm inspired on a daily basis by my personal goals. I make it a habit to write down what it is that I want to accomplish. And I check that list. I keep myself accountable. My kids inspire me, of course. My ambition inspires me. I want to win at everything that I do in life. I understand that it takes hard work to reach my goals and I'm prepared to do it. My confidence comes from preparation. So I spend a lot of my time preparing." — Laila Ali

15. "My definition of success is: 1.) The progressive realization of worthy goals 2.) The ability to love and have compassion 3.) To be in touch with the creative source within." — Deepak Chopra

16. "Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time. You cannot eliminate habits that no longer serve you. You can only replace them with new habits that support your goals. Moment by moment, you need to live with awareness and structure the habits that you include or exclude in your days." — Mark Twain

17. "The goal ever recedes from us. The greater the progress the greater the recognition of our unworthiness. Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory." – Mahatma Gandhi

18. "People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine." — Brian Tracy

19. "We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests." — Sheryl Sandberg

20. "The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise." — Maya Angelou

21. "Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements." – Napoleon Hill

22. "If you can dream it, you can make it so." — Belva Davis

23. "Never quit. It is the easiest cop-out in the world. Set a goal and don't quit until you attain it. When you do attain it, set another goal, and don't quit until you reach it. Never quit." – Bear Bryant

24. “ Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” — Marie Curie

25. “Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs.” — Mario Andretti

26. “Your complaints, your drama, your victim mentality, your whining, your blaming, and all of your excuses have never gotten you even a single step closer to your goals or dreams. Let go of your nonsense. Let go of the delusion that you deserve better and go earn it! Today is a new day!” — Steve Maraboli

27. “Set realistic goals, keep re-evaluating, and be consistent.” — Venus Williams

28. “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” — Maya Angelou

29. “I think education is power. I think that being able to communicate with people is power. One of my main goals on the planet is to encourage people to empower themselves.” — Oprah Winfrey

30. “What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams and goals to a power that's greater than other people and greater than myself.” — Oprah Winfrey

31. “What you want to do is to get to the point where you only do what matters to you. The real goal in life is to become more of who you are, so that you can make the choices that really satisfy who you are and what you want to do.” — Oprah Winfrey

32. “The only reason we really pursue goals is to cause ourselves to expand and grow. Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; it's who you become, as you overcome the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals, that can give you the deepest and most long-lasting sense of fulfillment.” — Tony Robbins

33. “Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming, complaining and excuse making, and keep taking action in the direction of your goals - however mundane or lofty they may be.” — Jack Canfield

34. “Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; can t's into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality. Don't just think it - ink it!” — Michael Korda

35. “Clear, written goals have a wonderful effect on your thinking. They motivate you and galvanize you into action. They stimulate your creativity, release your energy, and help you to overcome procrastination as much as any other factor.” — Brian Tracy

36. "The secret to productive goal setting is in establishing clearly defined goals, writing them down and then focusing on them several times a day with words, pictures and emotions as if we've already achieved them.” – Denis Waitley

37. "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” — Confucius

38. "I had always been an overachiever, so I felt I could just "wing it," reasoning that if I don't set clear, written goals I wouldn't have to account for anything if I failed. Now I'm the opposite! I am always setting goals, and I get very specific about where I'm going and take the time to learn the steps needed to take to get there.” — Edwina Findley

39. “Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there.” — Bo Jackson

40. "Life is teleology par excellence; it is the intrinsic striving towards a goal, and the living organism is a system of directed aims which seek to fulfill themselves.” — Karl Jung

Overall, there is no one way in particular to set life goals. However, you must be true to yourself and what you really hope to achieve in this lifetime.

Once you've honed into what exactly it is you're seeking – and not what you think you should want because society says so — it all comes together for the better.

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A mother-in-law made sure to make her daughter-in-law feel special

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Recently on Reddit, someone asked what secrets people are hiding that they would be willing to share online. A user named Kindly-Article-9357 had the best response: she was secretly uplifting her daughter-in-law.

“I've started to on occasion ‘accidentally’ (but on purpose) not hang up my phone correctly when getting off a call with my daughter-in-law,” she shared . “I then proceed to talk to my husband about how much I enjoy talking to her, how lovely I think she is, how glad I am that our son chose her, and whatever other boost I may think she needs.”

A Chosen Family

According to the woman, her daughter-in-law doesn’t have any family that uplifts her, and historically, that tears her down. So she decided to uplift the woman with these calls. It all started because she had accidentally butt-dialed her daughter-in-law one day and didn’t realize it when she began talking about her.

“I started doing this after my son told me about his wife coming to him in full-on snot tears,” she recalled of the experience. “She stayed on the line to hear what I ‘really’ thought of her, expecting the worst because that's been her experience of family. Apparently, she was quite touched by the things I said, and my son told me it gave her a confidence boost that lasted weeks.”

Now, the woman uses age to her advantage to continue making the couple feel good.

“So I do it more often now. Neither of them have any idea I do it on purpose, though. They just think I'm getting old and worse at managing my tech,” she added.

Leading By Example

According to the woman, she was inspired to foster a positive relationship with her son’s wife after her own experiences dating a man with a terminally ill mother.

“She had this calm serenity about her that I think only comes from making peace with your own death,” she added in the comments. “*She* treated me like her own daughter , and it made me feel so seen and accepted. It is her example that I try to follow with my own kids and their spouses.”

The story touched many in the comments, especially those who wished their own relationships with their in-laws were stronger and people who said they could use a boost like that themselves.

“As a girl who grew up feeling like a failure and a burden, this makes me cry. You're a wonderful MIL and the world needs more people like you,” one person shared.

Speaking With Kindness

It’s one thing to speak nicely about others when they’re listening, but it’s a whole other thing when someone overhears you speaking kindly about them. It’s validating and uplifting and something we can easily do for one another in life without much effort.

We don’t need to fake hang-ups to uplift others. Speaking kindly about family members, children, friends, or coworkers on the regular increases the chances they might overhear you. Not only that but it’s been scientifically proven that others may begin to see you as having the same positive traits that you’re talking up about someone else.

No one ever really knows what someone else is going through, and your words may one day be the boost a person needs. At the very least, you can feel good about yourself for doing your part to be kind and to make your corner of the world a warmer, safer place.

*Featured image contains photos by Karolina Kaboompics

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40-Year-Old Mother of 3 Goes From Inmate to Princeton Intern

Life can take us down unexpected and scary roads. Sometimes, we don’t know how to get off those roads and begin the climb to a better future. As this mom proved, however, anything is possible with a second chance and a little determination .

A Former Inmate

Woman goes from inmate to Princeton intern.

Mary McCrary is a 40-year-old mother of three who spent three years in prison. According to Good Morning America , she served time at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center in Nashville for a parole violation following a conviction for aggravated burglary.

McCrary dropped out of high school in Grade 10 and has since successfully pursued her GED, but it wasn’t until prison that she began thinking about further education . She hit a breaking point behind bars and decided it was time to turn her life around.

“When you get to a point where you're tired and don’t even want to live and you're hopeless and you feel useless and worthless, you have a decision to make,” she told the publication.

“I made the decision to use this time to do something different, to change my life, because I didn’t want to keep doing the same things and getting in trouble and ... doing whatever I had to to survive because it gets you in the exact same place.”

So, McCrary enrolled in a coding class as part of the center’s Persevere program, an initiative aimed at helping inmates earn certifications as front-end or full-stack web developers.

“The class alone made you feel like you’re a human being, that I was working towards something, that there is a goal in sight, I am going to accomplish something, and I did,” she added. “That does give you confidence and hope.”

A Life-Changing Opportunity

For the next six months, McCrary earned her certificate in front-end coding. She decided to develop her skills even more by enrolling at Nashville State Community College, which offers a program for inmates.

This past May, McCrary was granted parole, completed her supervision, and earned extra credits toward an associate’s degree. But not even she could anticipate what would happen next: an internship at Princeton.

The nine-week program is meant for formerly incarcerated undergrad students to gain experience and new opportunities, and so far, McCrary is excelling.

“Her dedication to building her future is evident in how she does not shy away from challenges and the unknown,” Bridgett vonHoldt, an associate professor at Princeton and the head of the internship program said. “She is a role model, demonstrating for anyone who thinks such change is impossible that nothing is impossible.”

As for McCrary, she knows this is an incredible opportunity and hopes the internship is the next step toward earning her AA degree back in Nashville.

“This has been life-changing in more ways than one. This is an unbelievable, sometimes overwhelming experience,” she said. “If you look at my past, it's a crazy shamble mess, but look now, look what can happen. Nothing is ever impossible.”

Second Chances

McCrary hopes to be a role model for those who are having a hard time accepting the idea of a brighter future and so far, she certainly is. She’s a great example of how things can get better and you can change your future when you’re willing to take advantage of the opportunities you have — even if they don’t seem like opportunities at the time.

This story is also a needed reminder that everyone deserves a second chance in life and that sometimes, by allowing someone who has messed up the chance to try again, they may surprise you.

No one is perfect, and everyone stumbles. It’s not how hard we fall that truly matters in life; it's how we pick ourselves back up. But it’s also up to us whether we want to be the person who lends someone on the ground a helping hand or if we want to be the guy who just keeps on walking.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Dream — The Difficult Path: My Dreams and Goals in Life

The Difficult Path: My Dreams and Goals in Life

Categories: Dream Life Goals

About this sample

Words: 1934 |

10 min read

Published: Jun 5, 2019

Words: 1934 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Works Cited

Emmons, R. A. (2003). Flourishing: The positive person and the good life. American Psychologist, 58(1), 100-110.
Hubbard, E. (n.d.). Elbert Hubbard quotes. Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/412-there-is-no-failure-except-in-no-longer-trying
Latham, G. P. (2004). The motivational benefits of goal-setting. Academy of Management Perspectives, 18(4), 126-129.
Pausch, R., & Zaslow, J. (2008). The last lecture. Hachette UK.
Stapp, B. (2009). Myths and realities of professional singing. Indiana University Press.
Turkay, S. (2015). Setting goals: Who, why, how? Journal of Instructional Psychology, 42(1), 8-13.

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Applying For Scholarships

Essay: How Will This Scholarship Help You Achieve Your Goals? (With Example) – 2023

Jennifer Finetti May 23, 2023

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Many scholarship applicants often have to write a “How will this scholarship help you achieve your goals” essay. This gives the scholarship committee an understanding of how the scholarship will help students pursue their goals.

Needless to say, the essay is very important for the scholarship application. This is where students can show off their personality. Students should make sure to write a unique composition which answers the essay question.

Think About Your Goals

It can be challenging to think about what your goals are after college. This is especially true if you haven’t decided on a major and have no idea what you want to study.

If you find yourself struggling to determine what your career goals are, try brainstorming before you start writing. Think of what your short-term and long-term goals are and write them down. What skills do you need to achieve these goals?

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Writing Tips – Getting Started

When starting to write your essay , make sure you open with a catchy introduction. This can be a question, an anecdote or a personal story. You want to grab your reader’s interest right away. Start with something unique, rather than using a generic sentence that any other student can use.

Explain the Inspiration Behind Your Goals

You’ll then want to explain the inspiration behind your goals. What led you to want to pursue these goals? What experiences have you had in life which have influenced you and your dreams?

Discuss Your Goals

After discussing your past experiences, talk about your education and career goals . Do you have a major? How will it help you achieve your goals?

Do you have long-term goals you can talk about? The scholarship provider doesn’t expect you to have long-term goals set in stone so don’t worry if you don’t. Instead, you can write about how you wish to impact others.

Make a Creative Conclusion

In your conclusion paragraph, you should summarize the major points in your essay. Then finish with a closing thought. You should try to make it creative and unique. You want to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

After you finish writing your essay, make sure you proofread it several times. The last thing you’d want to do is turn in an essay with grammar mistakes.

Scholarship Goals Essay Example

It was November, 2016, a few days before Thanksgiving. My class took a field trip to a soup kitchen to serve lunch. I poured piping hot soup into bowls while people started to fill the room. It was a great way to warm up on the frigid November day. Their eyes seemed empty and sad. “Happy Thanksgiving” we said to one another, as our eyes locked.

A few days later, as I sat surrounded by family, turkey, gravy and pumpkin pie, I couldn’t help but feel like something wasn’t right. Why was I so fortunate to have access to all this food? I thought of the people from the soup kitchen and wondered where they were. I knew right then and there that my purpose in life was to help people.

I returned to the soup kitchen as a volunteer a week later, and a week after that.

I envisioned the realm of possibilities for these people. “I would connect him with a rehab program, her with daycare for her baby so she could find work,” I thought to myself while volunteering. I have dreams of one day being able to help people make changes in their lives.

For this reason, I will be starting my undergraduate degree in social work at Boston University in the fall. I am certain that my studies will instill within me the skills and knowledge I need to pursue a career as a social worker. I hope to be able to help those who are less privileged find hope in their lives.

This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the exorbitant costs of tuition, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am planning to work during my undergraduate degree, but I do wish to focus a lot of my time on my studies. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the amount of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. This way, I’ll be able to continue with my academic achievements. It will also give me time to find an internship. I am hoping to find an internship at a homeless shelter in the Boston area.

It has been two and a half years since I first walked into that soup kitchen. That day without a doubt has changed the course of my life. My experiences there, talking with people and hearing their stories, have instilled within me a passion to help people make positive changes in their lives. This scholarship will allow me to pursue the education I need to achieve my goals.

Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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1. Completing Tasks

The ability to finish what you start without procrastination brings benefits beyond productivity—it’s good for your mental comfort, too. The habit to complete tasks helps to avoid the accumulation of unfinished assignments, which can create stress and reduce your personal efficiency. Consequently, mastering this practice often leads to better management of your time and resources.

Help yourself to develop this habit by creating to-do lists with the tasks you need to execute and checking off completed items. In addition to motivating you to get things done, this ritual can give you enormous satisfaction and the feeling of accomplishment. To make the most of these lists, set specific deadlines for each task.

Another trick to unlock this habit is the Inbox Zero method, which helps you to keep your email organized. Immediately delete all unnecessary emails, and respond to the ones that you can answer quickly. Instantly delegate to the correct person if you see that you are not the right person to respond. If an email requires some time to think over the reply, put it in your to-do list to answer later. If an email brings you a task of high priority, put it on your high-priority to-do list.

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Today’s nyt mini crossword clues and answers for friday, september 6, ‘the rings of power’ season 2, episode 4 review: another atrocious disaster, 2. reviewing goals and tasks.

Review your tasks and goals regularly to assess progress and adjust your action plan. This helps you identify ineffective methods and replace them with more productive ones. After all, life is giving us feedback on a daily basis, and it’s only wise to adjust our tactics and strategies accordingly.

Start by dedicating some time to analyzing the goals and tasks that you are setting for yourself once a week. Review whether your priorities changed, and reflect on what worked and what didn’t in your past experience. To make the most of these sessions, note down important thoughts and ideas that come up during the week. They may prompt you in the right direction when sorting out priorities and figuring out tasks.

3. Keeping A Tidy Desk

Maintaining order in your workplace can promote productivity and effectiveness and reduce stress . A clean and organized space helps you keep your mind on what needs to be done and minimizes distractions, while a cluttered space can create visual noise and impact your focus and memory negatively.

Arrange your workplace in such a way that you can easily see everything you may need. All the things that you use on a daily basis should always be in front of your eyes. Make it a habit to regularly clean your desk, removing unnecessary items and papers. Spend a few minutes at the end of each workday tidying your desk. If you notice things you haven’t used in a while on it, don’t hesitate to put them away.

4. Writing Down Thoughts And Ideas

Keeping notes helps you capture important thoughts and ideas so you don’t forget them later. By writing ideas down, you avoid losing them and free your mind from having to remember them. This way, you’ll be able to have a deeper focus on ongoing tasks and return to your insights later, at a more convenient time. It also helps to structure information for future use.

Make keeping notes a habit by carrying a notebook with you or use a note-taking app. Write down all important thoughts and ideas coming to you during the day. Regularly return to your notes to review them and use them for planning. If you find a note that you no longer resonate with or see no use in it, get rid of it. It’s important to keep your ideas, but your notes require decluttering from time to time, like your desk.

5. Using Transformational Language

Using positive and motivational expressions instead of negative and demotivating ones can be truly transformative. Positive language helps develop a healthier and more productive mindset. It affects your attitude toward tasks and boosts motivation.

First, it’s necessary to learn to catch negative thoughts. Practicing mindfulness helps with this a lot. Pay attention to what you are thinking and, if needed, write your thoughts down to analyze them better. Try changing demotivating thoughts with positive ones, and with time you’ll likely notice your internal monologue is becoming more optimistic and confident.

Go beyond thoughts, and replace negative expressions with positive ones in your everyday speech, too. Use affirmations and positive statements to boost motivation. At some point, you may notice that changing your speech has an uplifting effect not just on you but on everyone you come in contact with.

Habits are the foundation of one’s life. They can give your life direction by boosting your productivity and mood, or take your sense of purpose away by promoting procrastination and anxiety. It’s important to adapt the ones that serve you best. First you spend some time and effort to introduce useful habits to your routine, but later they become as easy as breathing.

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My Goals and Ways to Achieve Them
Goals can help you physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Goals can help you stay on the right path and not let you fall downhill. But if you don't set a goal you won't know where you'll end up. Setting up a goal can help you set a really good mindset for the future and present. Setting up a goal also gives your life direction ...
Essay on Goals in Life
In conclusion, goals are fundamental to our life's journey. They provide direction, foster resilience, and encourage personal growth. Balancing short-term and long-term goals, along with effective goal-setting strategies, can lead us to success. Ultimately, it is through setting and achieving our goals that we write our own life story.
Essays About Goals: Top 5 Examples Plus 10 Prompts
10 Prompts on Essays About Goals. 1. My Goals in Life. In this essay, delve into your short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. Before anything else, elaborate on what drew you to set these goals. Then, share your action plans to make them a reality. Discuss the obstacles you've faced and how you've conquered them.
My Goal In Life Essay
A goal is a desire you have to accomplish yourself. If one wants to succeed in life, one must have a goal. Being a teacher is my life's ambition. A wonderful and responsible profession is teaching. I have made the conscious decision to do all in my ability to promote knowledge among the people. Some people believe that money is life.
Free Life Goals Essay Examples & Topic Ideas
1. Life Goals Essay Prompt. Before you embark on your essay-writing journey, it's crucial to grasp the nuances of the essay prompt. Let's take a look at some sample prompts to help you get a better understanding: Prompt Sample 1: "Discuss the most significant life goals you hope to achieve and explain why they are important to you."
Goals of the Life: Personal Experience
People need to have goals in their life. According to Aristotle, "Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals". Achieving our goals makes us happy. As the result, our happiness depends on us. Nobody is guilty if we fail to do something in our life. We are responsible for our life ...
How To Write A Powerful Essay On Achieving Goals (+ Example)
How to Write a Conclusion. To signal the essay is ending, use a suitable word or phrase, such as 'In summary' or 'With all of this in mind'. Reread your introduction to remind yourself of your thesis. After that, either paraphrase or respond to the thesis. Summarize the key points stated in each of the assignment's paragraphs.
How Do I Write An Essay About Achieving My Goals?
Step 1: Set Clear Goals. Achieving your goals starts with clearly defining what you want to accomplish. Take some time to reflect on your aspirations and think about what truly matters to you. Your goals may include academic achievements, career aspirations, personal growth, or any other area of your life that you wish to improve. Ensure that ...
How to Write an Essay About My Goal: A Comprehensive Guide
The 'Why' behind the goal: Delve into your motivations. Discuss the driving forces behind this ambition. Steps to achieve: Provide a roadmap. Enumerate the steps you'd undertake to transform this goal into a reality. Potential Challenges: Highlight potential obstacles and your strategies to navigate them. Conclusion: Summarize and re-emphasize ...
Importance of Goals in Life Essay
Setting goals gives individuals a clear sense of direction and purpose. Without goals, it is easy to fall into a routine of simply going through the motions of life, without any real sense of achievement or progress. Goals provide a roadmap for success, giving individuals something to work towards and a reason to strive for excellence.
How to Set and Achieve Life Goals The Right Way
This feedback helps us adjust our behavior accordingly (and when it's rewarding feedback, our brains release dopamine, e.g. Treadway et al., 2012). By allowing for feedback, goals let us align or re-align our behaviors, keeping us on track with our eyes on the prize. 3. Goal-setting Can Promote Happiness.
How to Set, and Achieve, Your Life Goals
Goal-Setting Tips. Create a list of goals. For each goal, break it down into smaller steps. Plan out how you'll take these smaller steps. Think about how you'll overcome barriers that block your ...
Setting and Achieving Goals
Commit yourself to achieving your goals and you will learn the joy and satisfaction that comes from attaining your purpose in life. Build your life around your goals they will shape who you are at the end of the day. Let your goals define you and bring about great success in your life. Need an custom paper on Setting and Achieving Goals written ...
Setting Life Goals: The Path to Fulfillment and Success
In the same way, setting life goals gives you a blueprint for your future. It provides: Focus: Helping you concentrate on what truly matters. Motivation: Giving you a reason to push forward, even when things get tough. Direction: Providing a clear path to follow in life's journey.
How to Write an Awesome Essay About Your Career Goals
Paragraph 2: Elaborate on what inspired your career goals. Perhaps it was a relative, a TV show, or simply an experience that you had. Remember that old writing adage, "Show, don't tell.". In other words, try to demonstrate your interest with story or description. Paragraph 3: Discuss your short-term career goals and your intended major.
How to Be Successful in Reaching Your Goals
Distraction. For example, if you are trying to lose weight but are having a difficult time staying away from your favorite snacks, distracting yourself during your moments of weakness can be an effective way to avoid giving in to temptation. Practice. Willpower is something you can build, but it takes time and effort.
From Dream to Reality: The Power of Setting and Achieving Goals
Because a goal without commitment is just a dream, but a goal with commitment is a dream on its way to becoming a reality. 😊. Setting and achieving goals is not about perfection, but progress ...
The Ultimate Guide to Setting and Achieving Life Goals
According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, proper daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids daily for men and roughly 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids daily for women. Other Examples of Key Personal Life Goals to Help You Live a Balanced, Purposeful, and Happy Life.
The Difficult Path: My Dreams and Goals in Life
Secondly, setting goals in life are very significant and are beneficial in having a fulfilling life. There are many ways having life goals can impact ones' life. A major way having goals can be beneficial is to what one achieves (Latham 126). Life goals set a path for ones' life and have many beneficial factors including preventing ...
Life Goals Essays at WritingBros
Goal setting is a fundamental practice that plays a pivotal role in achieving personal and professional success. By setting clear and achievable goals, individuals can channel their efforts, track their progress, and maintain focus on their aspirations. In this essay, we will explore how goal... Goals. Life Goals.
Essay: How Will This Scholarship Help You Achieve Your Goals? (With
This gives the scholarship committee an understanding of how the scholarship will help students pursue their goals. Needless to say, the essay is very important for the scholarship application. This is where students can show off their personality. Students should make sure to write a unique composition which answers the essay question.
Essay On Reach For Your Goals
808 Words4 Pages. Reach For Your Goals. It is easier said than done when you say you have and can reach for your goals. There are several factors that could influence or determine your success in accomplishing your goals and plans in life. You need to have the right attitude and the best resources to help you in your way to realizing your ...
Setting and Achieving Goals Essay
746 Words. 3 Pages. Open Document. A person needs to achieve certain goals in one's life before you can call them successful. Success is to achieve goals, you have set. I have set certain goals I would like to achieve in my lifetime. Some of these goals are personal while others are professional. My professional goals in life are to find a good ...
Five Habits To Help You Succeed In Achieving Your Professional Goals
2. Reviewing Goals And Tasks. Review your tasks and goals regularly to assess progress and adjust your action plan. This helps you identify ineffective methods and replace them with more ...