Set Your Life Direction with Clearly Defined Goals

by Percival J. Meris on August 4, 2009

120 Expectations 800x6001 Set Your Life Direction with Clearly Defined Goals

MOST PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES WITHOUT PURPOSEFUL DIRECTION and as a result wonder why they are not as happy as they truly should be. They erroneously think that happiness is attained only through self-gratification, as they allow themselves to be tossed on the sea of fortuity by life’s constant vicissitudes. On the contrary, one attains true happiness by being steadfastly faithful to a worthy purpose. Precisely, many people fail in life because they do not organize their energies around a focused and well-defined life purpose. A purpose-driven life is directed by clearly defined life goals.

Attributes of a Clearly Defined Goal

Setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. When you set goals, you visualize your ideal future, and commit yourself to turn this vision into reality. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to focus your present efforts. But to be successful in goal setting, you have to take the S-M-A-R-T way of doing it.

SMART is actually an acronym that serves as a mnemonic device for remembering the five attributes of an effective goal. Accordingly, a goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These attributes turn wishful dreams into workable goals. You may find a simple computer program, called Achieve IT! Goal Setting Software, helpful in this regard. It has been developed to guide its user through setting his goal easily.

By setting goals the smart way, you able to measure forward progress in what might have otherwise been an aimless endeavor. In addition, clearly defined goals set landmarks that when achieved serve as short-term motivations to a long-term vision.

The Process of Setting Your Life Goals

Start setting goals by seeing a big picture of your life. Take an inventory of it, listing areas in which you feel both satisfied and dissatisfied. Classify these areas into major categories, and arrange them according to importance. Taking note of those areas that are already in line with your end desires, highlight those in which you want to see improvements.

Using the SMART guidelines, create long-term goals for your areas of improvement, and break them down into short-term goals. Break these short-term goals further into shorter-term and more specific goals and objectives. Finally, reduce these objectives into specific courses of action and daily schedules of tasks-to-do.

Implement these plans, but review them daily. Feel free to modify them to reflect your changing priorities and experience.

If you have set goals, you will succeed because you know exactly to what direction you are heading. Knowing your destination is half the journey. Where you are coming from doesn't matter at all. All that matters really is where you are going. If you commit yourself to it, you can be assured of success. What you get by achieving your goals is not important. It is what you become that really matters.