The Science of Goal Setting
"A goal casually set and lightly taken will be freely abandoned at the first obstacle."—Zig Ziglar
"Goal: the end toward which effort is directed"—Webster's Online Dictionary
Goals and Your Brain
- Setting goals is a conscious activity.
- Will power is a conscious activity.
- Five sixths of your brain power is NOT conscious.
- Ninety-five percent of human behaviors are unconscious and automatic—also known as "habits."
- Long-term behavior changes come from moving them from conscious to unconscious thoughts.
Key Components
- It takes 21 to 30 days to form a habit.
- Repeat the action over and over until it goes from the conscious to the subconscious.
- The act of rewriting your goal every day can be one of these actions that then causes you to think about your goals each day.
- Using the power of your thoughts helps you advance your goals into reality.
- Make goals specific.
- Believe in yourself and your awesome ability to achieve the goal.
Setting Goals: Questions to Ask Yourself
- What do I need to change in my life?
- Where have I been successful so far?
- What are my failures?
- What have I yet to accomplish?
- What are my fears?
- What motivates me?
- How do I define success?
Are you Alice in Wonderland?
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" said Alice.
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where," said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
—Lewis Carroll in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Your Road Map for Goal Setting
- Put it in writing.
- Put a date on it.
- List the obstacles.
- Identify the people, groups, or associations you need to reach your goal.
- Make a plan of action with a time limit.
- Know the benefits of accomplishing the goal.
- Sometimes "winging it" can be great.
Get busy!
- You are your own worst enemy.
- Hard, hard work will get you there.
- Perseverance is important.
- Remotivate yourself every day!
Useful Tools
Useful tools to help you achieve your goals include calendars, journals, sponsors (have a friend join in or check in regularly to keep you accountable), reward systems, and visual reminders (hang up pictures).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Occupational Health (FOH), Workforce Management Office (WFM). (n.d.). The science of goal setting [PPT]. Retrieved June 26, 2018, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website: http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/