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Setting Goals
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Your goal is the target you're aiming at. It's your purpose. Your objective.
It can be: Short range - "I need to get to the bus stop on time this
morning." Medium range "I wish I had a best friend I could really
talk to." Long range "I'm going to be a famous writer someday."
There are all kinds of goals:
- Personal achievement "I'd like to paint a really cool mural in my
room."
- Physical "I want to be able to swim the length of the pool
underwater."
- Social "I want to have a boyfriend/girlfriend."
- Emotional "I'd like to be less critical of my looks."
- Intellectual "I'm learning to play the guitar."
- Academic "I'm going to try to get an A in French this quarter."
- Material "I'd like to save up enough money to buy a computer."
- Spiritual "I want to figure out what I'm here for."
The goals you set for yourself depend on what's important to you. If the
only thing important is being liked by other people, you'll probably have
trouble choosing goals. You will be too busy trying to look cool!
Take a minute and think about what some of your goals are.
Some people set goals often, but rarely reach them. Why? Because they don't
have a plan of action. Without that, it's hard to stay on target.
With clear goals and a plan of action, it's much easier to get where you're
going. It's also easier to avoid "quick sand." For example, if you want to
swim long distances underwater, you'll have to increase your endurance and
lung capacity. Your plan of action better include lots of training. Cutting
swim practice would not be on target with your goal. Neither would smoking!
Why set goals and work toward them? Because getting things done makes people
feel good. (Finding a Non-drug high)When
you achieve a goal, your self-esteem goes way up. And that gives you
confidence to set new goals. People who achieve their goals change their
lives, and the lives of those around them.
When you fail to reach a goal (and everyone does from time to time) you have
a choice. You can:
- Give up (and your self-esteem way goes down)
- Use the failure as an opportunity to learn something about yourself
and your behavior. Then create a new plan of action so you're more
likely to achieve your goal next time. You'll soon be back on track again,
and your self-esteem will go up. People around you will also gain respect
for you.
Remember:
Every choice you make is important to your self-respect. You never know who
is watching and seeing you as a role model.
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