If you want to achieve a goal, you need to write it down. I know it sounds a bit cliché, but it does work. People who vividly describe their goals are more likely to accomplish their goals. Encoding is the biological process by which the things we perceive travel to our brain’s hippocampus where they’re analysed. Decisions are made about what gets stored in your long-term memory. Writing will improve the encoding process. When you write it down, it has a much higher chance of being remembered.
You will remember things better when you write them down. One of the quickest ways I read for an exam is to read, create my test questions, sit in the reviews I set for myself to answer the questions by writing out the answers. I write the correct answers in another paper I use to score and grade my exam. I review areas I am wrong. I rewrite the exam and continue the process until I am proficient in all the questions. Because I am writing the answers, they stick to my brain and I can remember them. I can relate to the answers, explain them better to others, and grow in knowledge as a result. It is the same process when students take notes in class. You remember the things that were taught because while writing, you are creating a mental picture of what is being written, and it stays in your brain.
It’s not just a general recall that improves when you write things down. Your recall of the essential information will be enhanced as well. Taking notes enable one to remember many more important facts and many fewer unimportant facts. Writing down is not all about remembering though; it also helps you to focus on the essential stuff. And your goals absolutely should qualify as important stuff.
You need specific and measurable goals in your life. So, what is a goal? Why should you have a goal? Why can’t you live your life without having a goal? Is having a goal important? What difference will it make in my life to have a goal?
According to Wikipedia, the exact definition of a goal is: The desired result a person or a system envisions, plans, and commits to achieve a personal or organisational desired endpoint in some assumed development. Many people endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines. In other words, any planning you will do in the future, regardless of what it is, is a goal. A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan, and commit to achieving. With this definition, everyone has some goals. Goals take you forward in life; they are the oxygen to your dreams. They are the first steps to every journey you choose and are also your last. You must realise the significance and importance of goal setting and apply this knowledge in your life.
There are ample reasons why you should have a goal. A goal gives you focus. You need a target. You don’t want to aim aimlessly without a target. You don’t want your energy and effort to be wasted. You can have all the potential in the world, but without focus, your abilities and talent are useless. Just like how sunlight can’t burn through anything without a magnifying glass focusing it, you can’t achieve anything unless a goal is focusing your effort. Goals give you direction in life. You give yourself a target to shoot by setting goals for yourself. The sense of direction is what allows your mind to focus on a target and rather than waste energy shooting aimlessly; it will enable you to hit your target and reach your goal.
By setting goals for yourself, you can measure your progress because you always have a fixed endpoint or benchmark to compare with. By setting goals, you give yourself mental boundaries. When you have a specific parameter in mind, you automatically stay away from inevitable distractions and stay focused towards the goal. When you set a goal for yourself, you make yourself accountable to finish the task. It enables you to overcome procrastination. The root of all the motivation or inspiration you have ever felt in your entire life are goals. Goal setting provides you with the foundation for your drive. By making a goal, you give yourself a concrete endpoint to aim for and get excited about. It gives you something to focus on and put 100% of your effort into, and this focus is what develops motivation. Goals are simply tools to focus your energy in positive directions, these can be changed as your priorities change, new ones added, and others dropped.
Having goals is very important. It is not something you can ignore. Goals give you a roadmap to follow. Goals are a great way to hold yourself accountable, even if you fail. Setting goals and working to achieve them helps you to define what you truly want in life. Setting goals also enables you to prioritise things. Goals give you a starting point and a destination to reach. The process of writing your goals helps you clarify what you desire to do, understand the importance of pursuing them and commit yourself to make them happen. Goals have value only if they help you develop and improve yourself or others potential. Goals are suitable for a lot of reasons. They give you a target to shoot for. They give you hope for your vision and help you develop a plan to achieve your dreams. They also hold you accountable.
Life goals are mostly everything you want to do in life before passing on. Setting goals gives you purpose, and they help you to guide your life. Your goals will guide you where you want to go, but it's still on you to choose the path to get there. When you set goals, the time you set to achieve the goals makes a big difference in the type of goal. There are four different types of goals:
- Steppingstone goals
- Short term goals
- Long term goals
- Lifetime goals
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes. Don’t let anything stop you from reaching your goals. Motivation gets you going, and habit gets you there. No matter what stay focus on your goals. Do not let anyone discourage your ambitious attitude. A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dream come true. Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
