While the old adage says nothing is impossible, people sometimes set goals or have dreams for themselves that are destined to fail. Somebody has to be the best at your dreams. Somebody has to be a millionaire. Somebody has to get that promotion. It can be frustrating when it never turns out to be you. However, there are a number of reasons why your "pie in the sky" dreams or goals are not working for you.
One reason goals tend to fail is because they are unrealistic for the individual. For example, if you have a physical impairment that prevents you from leaving your living room recliner without the help of an ambulance crew, it is a bit unrealistic to think that you will be climbing Mount Everest in the next six months.
Moreover, it is not feasible for you to dream of being a millionaire in the next three years if you are undereducated and spend your days flipping burgers for minimum wage. If you want to reach your goals and dreams, be sure to set them so that you can realistically achieve them within your time frame.
Another reason people fail to achieve their personal goals is that the goal is too poorly defined. When setting a goal, it is important to make sure you include a way to measure success. For example, if your goal is to have more friends,
- is one friend going to help you reach that goal?
- Are three friends going to do it for you?
- Do they have to be friends from sources other than your place of employment?
- If you meet two people from work, will that count?
When engaging in the goal setting process, be sure you clearly define your goal. This will lessen your chance of failure.
People also fail in their goals because the goal is not truly theirs. Sometimes the people around us implement their beliefs and dreams into our thinking processes.
As a result, we might, for a time, truly believe we want to do what that person wants. However, upon deep personal examination, it might become grossly apparent that their goal is not what we want at all.
For example, if your spouse wants to have a home big enough to display his collection of Star Wars memorabilia all over the house, you may think that is your goal for a time too.
However, if your goal is to have a home big enough for all of your child's toys, the two goals may be conflicting. It is, therefore, essential to consider only your thoughts and needs while setting your goals.
An additional reason people fail to achieve their goals is because they are afraid of the results. Achieving your goals can cause great personal change. Change is often a scary thing to face. It can cause the upheaval of your entire life. That can be a concern for people with big dreams.
An example of this might be if it is your dream to finish your PhD and secure a university teaching position. If you do not live in an area where there are a number of universities, you probably are not going to be able to stay in the same area and get that job.
Moreover, this might involve uprooting your entire family. That is a scary thought. If you do not think you can handle the results of your goal, perhaps it is best not to list it among your other goals.
Some people do not record their goals or dreams. This can result in a loss of the idea. We tend to be very forgetful, as our society can place great stress upon us. This stress can cause you to lose focus of your personal goals and dreams. Writing down those dreams, and reminding yourself of them often can help you to keep your focus on them without forgetting what you truly want to do with your life before it reaches its final point.
One last reason people fail to achieve their dreams is because they are dealing with too many dreams at once. It can be overwhelming to try to change your entire life overnight. For example, if you want to make more friends, get a better job, find a better house, get an education, and make more money, you have far too many life changing goals in a short span of time.
Break your goals down into achievable, measurable pieces. They'll be much easier to reach. That might give you the chance to pat yourself on the back for actually reaching one of your goals.
No comments:
Post a Comment