How to Know Which Type of Goal Is Most Beneficial for You
Why Knowing This Will Make It Easier to Achieve What You Want
While you may want to set goals, knowing which type of goal is most beneficial for you may not be as clear.
Not all goals fall into one category. Knowing which type of goal is most beneficial for you will make it easier to achieve what you want, and you won’t wonder if you’ve selected the right one.
1-Minute Summary Video
Why Set Goals?
The purpose of setting goals is to:
- Have focus and direction in life.
- Grow and become a better version of yourself.
- Improve what and how you do things.
- Achieve more or reach greater levels of success.
- Live the life you want.
Setting goals also provides inspiration and motivation to do what’s required to achieve them.
The Four Main Goal Categories
It’s often recommended to have:
- Personal goals.
- Financial goals.
- Overall life goals.
- Performance goals.
- Career goals.
- Health goals or fitness goals.
- Achievement or success goals.
- Educational goals.
- Relationship goals.
- Spiritual goals.
These often fall under process goals or outcome goals.
Another common concept is to ensure they’re SMART goals, which means they need to be specific, measurable, attainable, Realistic, and Time bound.
While these ideas are useful, it’s helpful to take a step back to categorise the different goals you can set.
The four main goal categories are:
- Being goals.
- Relating goals.
- Creating goals.
- Growth goals.
1. Being Goals
These refer to becoming your best self and the person you’re proud of. It’s about knowing who you need to be to achieve what you want.
Personal goals and professional development goals usually fall into this category.
2. Creating Goals
These refer to how you want to interact with others. It’s about developing deep, meaningful connections.
Relationship goals usually fall into this category.
3. Relating Goals
These refer to things you want to create, do, have, and experience. It’s about knowing what you want to contribute to those that matter to you and to the world.
Financial, achievement, or success goals usually fall into this category.
4. Growth Goals
These refer to mastering something which will require you to push outside of your comfort zone. It’s about your personal evolution and self-mastery.
Spiritual goals and performance goals usually fall into this category.
When deciding which goal to select, it’s helpful to refer to these categories for greater clarity.
How to Know Which Type of Goal Is Most Beneficial
Here are five techniques you can use to determine which type of goal is most beneficial for you, so it becomes easier to achieve what you want.
- Assess which season of life you’re in. This will help you clarify your priorities. For example, a person in their twenties will have different priorities than someone in their fifties.
- Identify what’s important to you and what gives you meaning. Everyone has different drivers or motivators. Get in touch with what gives you joy. Identify things that are meaningful to you.
- Reconnect to the big dreams you want to achieve. It’s often said a goal is a dream with a deadline. You had big dreams. Get honest with yourself and assess whether you’ve abandoned any of your dreams and why. Identify whether those dreams are still important to you. Define how your life will improve if those dreams become a reality.
- Reflect on what will give you the biggest benefit in the shortest time. It’s okay to focus on a quick win. When you achieve a goal quickly, it will give you confidence and build momentum. This will also make it easier to identify short-term goals and long-term goals.
- Determine your capacity and commitments. This also relates to the season of life you’re in. This means you need to know who’s depending on you and what you’re committed to in terms of time, energy, and resources. When you know this, it will help you identify how you can become more resourceful if the goal you want is important.
Final Thoughts
Setting the wrong goal can lead to frustration, disappointment, and low self-confidence. When you know which type of goal is most beneficial, you will give yourself a better chance of achieving it.
When you achieve a major goal, you will feel good about yourself, and it will also reflect who you are and what matters to you.
Action Step: Review the goal categories and reflect on the season of life you’re in and what matters most to you now. Use that awareness to choose a goal most beneficial to you.
Question: What is another way to know which type of goal is most beneficial to you?
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