Goals that Inspire

Instinctively we know that the beginning of a new year is a good time to set goals. Many people make new-year resolutions. But you can start a new year anytime you like - on your birthday, on an anniversary, or even today! At work we set objectives; at home we make plans. Whatever we call them, goals are essential for focusing action and achieving success.

John Schaar, professor at the University of California, puts it like this:

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created - created first in the mind and will, created next in activity.

The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination".

If you want to create the future you want, goals are a crucial part. Without them life just seems to 'happen' and the results seem random and outside our control. If we don't set goals, can we really complain about the outcome?

So it seems that fundamentally goals are a 'good idea' and we should all have some. But we all know that some goals are better than others. Some goals just add to our workload, bring little personal benefit and seem to be a struggle to keep going. Many a new-year resolution that sparkled in January can be rather faded by March or April.

One trap is to settle for pseudo-goals. It is easy to fall for them because pseudo-goals have a subtle disguise. To uncover them ask yourself this question: when you express the goal, does your language includes 'should', 'ought', 'must' or 'have to'? If it does, you are adopting a goal from another person or persons. This includes peer pressure, fashion and organisational culture. Is this a goal that you really want?

The better sort of goal actually inspires us, bringing its own energy. It lifts us from mere labour and we feel awake and self-motivated. These are the goals where we don't need to wait until we achieve them to get benefit because working towards them creates its own satisfaction. When we do achieve them, we want to celebrate. These are the goals that are really worth setting.

The language for an inspiring goal is 'I choose to...'? Try the difference for yourself: for example:

A. 'I should apply for that position'
B. 'I choose to apply for that position'

If 'I choose to...' is not comfortable, then the goal is unlikely to be inspiring.

Here's a challenge - how about committing to one truly inspiring goal to be achieved in the next year?

You can check that your goal is truly inspiring like this:

1. Let your mind travel forward in time.
2. Imagine yourself at that point in the future when you have achieved your goal.
3. Take a few moments, there in the future, to see what is going on, hear what people are saying and feel what it is like.
4. How inspired are you? Give yourself a score out of 10.
5. Using your score, are you are inspired enough? If not, can you refine your goal? You can check it again by starting at step 1.

When you have your truly inspiring goal, write it down. Keep the note safe so you can refer to it later in the year. You could even choose to have a reminder on view somewhere that you see every day.