What is the Foundation for creating a goal?
A goal is essentially describing a destination. Where would we like to be or what change would we like to see at the end of our journey?
An objective is how we measure the progress on that journey and towards that change. Objectives are specific, and more short term than goals are – which are a little bit broader and are the long term outcomes you want to achieve or need to achieve.
The foundation for being able to identify goals is by identifying which values and priorities are important to us – then relate that value to a goal.
What are Personal Values and Priorities?
A value comes from the inside. It is something that is ethically or morally intrinsic to who we are and what we believe in. They are the things that you find important to your life. They determine how you prioritize things.
A priority is something that can be changed, shifted and moved due to external influences such as time, resources and availability.
If you are running late for a meeting – your priorities change. What is higher on the totem pole, skipping a shower or getting breakfast? For some people, breakfast may hold higher priority and more of a reason to be late while to others the shower may hold the higher priority. If your value is good hygiene, your priority will shift to shower first and skip breakfast. If your value is food and a full belly, then your priority will shift to getting food and maybe just throwing on some deodorant or utilizing baby wipes (we’ve all done it).
Identifying our values is the first step to setting goals because, if our goals are not informed by our values, we will be less motivated to fulfill them and be more likely to fall off them.
Some Common Personal Values
- Create Satisfying Relationships
- Achieve things in life
- Live a life of pleasure and excitement
- Behave Respectfully
- Be Self-Directed
- Be power and Respected
- Find Independence
- Live a life of spirituality.
How do we identify our values?
Ask yourself:
- What kind of things are important to me?
- What are the things I consider a strength? What really energizes me?
- What are my highest priorities in life?
- When were you happiest?
- When were you the proudest?
- What fulfills me and makes me feel satisfied?
These are questions we can ask ourselves when figuring out the priority of our values.
- What do I need to change in my life so that it will match my values?
- In what areas do I feel my life doesn’t currently match my values well?
- Which value is not in my life right now?
- In what ways do I feel dissatisfied in my life?
After we are able to identify what our values are, we can work towards prioritizing these values. Then creating SMART goals around these values to keep us motivated and on track!
