Effective Goal Setting

Did you ever question why setting goals is essential to your life? The simplest answer is that you could just end up anywhere if you don't set a goal. There you would be, just floating around waiting for whatever happened next. That may be a little overly simplistic, but you get the idea. You need to have a destination in mind. In order to get to that destination, you have to have a plan. Every morning you wake up and make goals. You are just not aware of it. You decide what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, what chores you want to get done that day.

The real question is whether you are being effective in your goal setting. Goals are important, so you need to take the time to think through the consequences each one has on your life. How much time and effort will this goal take? Are you going to feel that you wasted your valuable time once you reach your goal? As the saying goes, time flies, so you don't have any of it to waste on goals that do not add to your life. You do have to be realistic to a certain extent. If you are a 50-year-old woman who has never played tennis, it would be unlikely for an older beginner to win a tennis championship. However, if you love tennis and know the game, you could teach or coach and still be where you love to be.

Start thinking about what you want out of life, no matter your age. Each area of your life needs to have goals. You have your private life, family life, love life, career, money and spiritual life. You have to give each area your attention when it comes to being an effective goal setter. If you are still just floating through life and going wherever the wind takes you, that is a dead end as far as goals go.

Starting as early as possible in your life with setting goals is the best. But, it is never too late to get started. If you're older, think about what you want to do with the rest of your life. Think about each area of your life, where you are now and where you would like to be. Let your imagination do the floating and see where it takes you.

Start today. When the day is gone, it is something you can never get back. What do you want to do with today? Make a plan and make a habit of writing it down. Set goals for the rest of the week, month and year. Then the rest of your life. The simple practice of writing your goals will be a valuable lesson that will carry you through to your destination. The rewards of doing this are beyond imagining.