Setting the Right Goals

By Ivana Pejakovic BSc., MA

See all Articles by IvanaSee Ivana's Expert PageGet Updates on Goal SettingGet Updates on Ivana Pejakovic

A question most of us ask ourselves is whether or not we are setting the right goals. With so many external influences and pressures it can be difficult to distinguish between others’ goals and our own. To help us decide, it is helpful to have a number of measures to assess the appropriateness of our goals to ensure we are really choosing what is important to us. The three criteria I use are 1) my passion and enthusiasm to work towards my goals, 2) the compatibility of my goals with my core values, and 3) the amount of fun I am having while working towards my goals. While all three measures are important, none of them are sufficient on their own. As a result, I use all three criteria to evaluate if my goals are right for me.

Passion and Enthusiasm:

Man of us have heard that as long as we are passionate and enthusiastic about our goals we know we are on the right path. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to use enthusiasm as a sole measure of the ‘rightness’ of our goals. Depending on the day and the events in our lives our level of enthusiasm can vary anywhere from low to high. While it is difficult to have our enthusiasm level stay high at all times, natural passion and enthusiasm for goals that are not our own does not occur. It is like getting excited about working towards something you dread.

Core Values and Strengths:

Our natural strengths tend to support our values. We are given strengths to help us act in accordance to what is important to us. For example, people who value helping others, tend to have strengths, such as communication skills and compassion that allow them to do what is important to them. When picking our goals, it would be beneficial to first self-analyze. Ask yourself what is important to you and how you would like to contribute to society. The answers to these questions will lead you to set goals that are fulfilling and motivating.

Fun:

When we work towards goals that naturally align with our values and strengths we are more likely to have fun as we work our way to goal achievement. Even the trial and error process can be amusing as we are challenged to complete our objectives. Pushing to achieve goals that are not our own, however, may require us to use skills and talents that we do not naturally possess. If we cannot develop the required skills and talents up to our expectations, we are likely to experience self-directed anger and frustration.

No Secret Formulae Needed

So, how do we know if our goals are truly the right goals for us? Choosing personal or professional goals really does not require unique and complex formulae. When our goals align with our values and strengths, we are more likely to have fun with what we do. Passion and enthusiasm, though it may dwindle from time to time, will come naturally and working towards goal achievement will feel effortless. When choosing our goals, however, we need to know ourselves and what is important to us. Once we choose a goal we can use the three measures to verify if this goal is indeed the right goal for us.