The goal-setting problem is not purely philosophical. It is practical and concerns each of us. Setting goals consciously and planning to achieve them, for a long time devoting a lot of effort to the cause is an exceptional property of a reasonable person. In our brain, the zone responsible for goal-setting and planning, the prefrontal cortex, is developed many times better than in higher animals. It must be used for its intended purpose! Goals are crystallized dreams that are prepared for realization.
How do you breathe?
To set the goal correctly, you first need to identify your key life values. You can do this in notepad, a file with a password, or special applications for smartphones. But correctly set goals are always the result of a deep understanding of values. Otherwise, it turns out either not too zealous pursuit of an elusive target (examples you see every day in the face of losers), or an obsession and fanaticism, like Captain Ahab from the book “Moby Dick”, who believed that the main goal in life is to kill the man who crippled him white whale. At the same time, the captain took almost the entire crew of the ship to the bottom of the sea . A worthy goal? Unlikely. And by the way, so captain and not achieved.
Understand yourself
When a person’s goals flow from some values and at least do not contradict others, the basis for motivation is created. For example, if a chubby girl values abundance of love experiences in her life and understands that she needs to lose weight in order to fulfill her dreams , then she is very likely to succeed. But until she realizes why it is personally important for her to eat little and to torment herself with loads, most likely, there will be no result. But verbally expressed, recorded, conscious goals are the most powerful fuel of motivation in moments of weakness.
Clarity is the sister of the result.
For a dream to become a goal, you need to work it out. It is imperative to formulate a goal specifically. Just "personal growth" is a loose concept. But, for example, acquiring the skill of concentrated work without distractions for a certain number of hours is already a specific goal. Although here productivity criteria are needed. Otherwise, there will be a dream of "successful success."
How to dream productively
Next - it’s important to set a deadline for implementation. Moreover, it is better to put the first deadline for the project for the next 48 hours. But if you are just thinking about what you would like to do in life, then it is recommended to create a Bucket List. This is a list of what is important to do before your life ends. These are not quite goals, but quite worthy of their predecessors. The Bucket List is a great way to figure out what you would like. It helps during periods of apathy and depression. There you can record other people's goals you like - and then analyze how much you need them. The list can not be shown to anyone, but you can brag.
Goals are what give meaning to life and characterize you as a person. Therefore, they must be strong and meaningful for you personally. Achieved goals are the foundation for self-confidence and knowledge of life. Therefore, get this positive experience in maximum quantities.