Man is a rational being and endowed with what animals do not have, namely, the search for the meaning of life. The purpose and meaning of being are interrelated things and follow each other: first the goal, and then the meaning. That's why it's so important to define your goals. In addition, it is important to understand what a goal is.
Goal concept
The conscious image of the anticipated result is the goal. In other words, we can say that the goal is a mental visualization of the final result. That is, you need to imagine, and as brightly and naturally as possible, what we want to have in the end. And it doesn’t matter what the result is, whether it’s a well-paid job or a slim figure. It is the goal that is most clearly understood that will help us achieve the final result.
If the goal is vague and unclear, the conscious image of the anticipated result cannot be recreated in your imagination, then the result will be appropriateor just none. Goals are very important in the life of any person, because by achieving them, we increase our self-esteem, significance and belonging to the society that we all need.
What should be the goal
As mentioned above, a conscious image of the expected result is simply necessary when it comes to any goal in life. The well-known American psychologist Albert Bandura, who was closely involved in the study of this issue, identified several important aspects that characterize the optimally set goal. These include the following:
- Specific and clear. The conscious image of the anticipated result is the goal, which is clear, not vague. Otherwise, the achievement of the result would be difficult.
- Proximity. If the goal is very far away, then the image of its result is quite difficult to imagine, which already dooms the final goal to failure in advance.
- Difficult, but achievable. There must be a middle ground. On the one hand, a target that is too light makes you relax, while a target that is too heavy gives you a persistent feeling of helplessness.
- Step-by-step, which gives a feeling of small victories at each of the stages, and also helps to cope with failures quite easily.
Characteristics of Heinrich Altshuler
The famous author of the theory of inventive problem solving also formulated the characteristics of the goal that can satisfy any individual.
These characteristics include the following:
- Concrete and practical. Without these two components, the goal turns into something difficult to achieve and ultimately unnecessary. There must be a clear sequence of actions, as well as a clear understanding of the meaning of the actions.
- Novelty is either in new ways to achieve the result, or in the very uniqueness of the goal.
- Ahead of its time. The goal should not keep up with the times, it should be ahead of it, and how much - it is up to a particular person.
- Significance and usefulness to society. The goal must be noble and carry a socially useful load, otherwise achieving it will not bring good results to those who so aspired to it.
If the characteristics of the goal presented by Albert Bandura are of a general nature, therefore they are suitable for wide groups of people, then Altshuler's characteristics are for a narrower circle of people who make a significant contribution to science and human history. That is why, given that the conscious image of the intended outcome is the ultimate goal, it is important that it meet all of the above characteristics and aspects.
Goal setting
When the goal is already clear and understandable, we can consider that this is a huge achievement on the way to its implementation. Without understanding the goal, it is impossible to achieve anything at all in life.
Now let's turn to the goal setting algorithm. What are the stages you need to lose in your mind on the way to achieving the goal?So, the specifics are already there, now it is important to formulate the goal in such a way that the responsibility for its implementation lies entirely with you. Otherwise, there will always be a loophole to shift the measure of responsibility onto others, and then blame them for the failure to achieve the goal. That is why you need to rely only on yourself, without taking into account third parties.
Next, you need to mentally recreate the moment when the goal has already been achieved. We can say that the conscious image of the expected result is the almost achieved goal, which is why it is important to try to keep this image as long as possible. This will be the motivation that is needed to achieve the goal.
Emotions and feelings during the reconstruction of the image
Our emotions and feelings while mentally replaying the final result will serve as an indicator of how well the goal is chosen and will fulfill our inner needs in the end.
If the feelings are negative, you are uncomfortable and uncomfortable, this is a signal that something is wrong. In this case, you need to go back, first one stage, and re-examine your emotions and feelings. If there is a feeling of discomfort again, then something should be changed. It is possible that change will be required at the very beginning when setting a goal.
As mentioned above, the goal is almost achieved if there is a persistent conscious image of the anticipated result. Our ability to achieve it affectsfocus on this image, as well as our attitude towards this image. That's why it's so important to keep track of your emotions and take them into account.
If everything is in order with emotions, there is no negativity, you can safely move on.
Conclusion
After all the previous steps have been completed, you can still check that the target was chosen correctly. Try to imagine your life after the goal has already been achieved. What will change in life and in relationships between relatives and friends? A conscious image of the expected outcome is called a goal, so this image will help you understand if you made the right choice.
If your soul remains calm and firmly convinced that the path you have chosen is yours, you can safely move towards the realization of the goal. And the result will not disappoint you!
