Simple question: Do you know what you are trying to achieve (in your education or just in life in general) - and why? Really think about that question. It's more important that anything. If you don't understand what you're trying to achieve or why you're trying to achieve it then you have absolutely no hope of getting there. Why? Well where are you trying to get to anyway? You haven't even defined it remember! So step one is to create a goal want to achieve and a goal you actually understand.
At the next stage of goal setting we must ask ourselves not how are we going to achieve the goal but who do we need to become in order to achieve it? What specifically are the actions and mindset required to make the goal a reality? How does someone who has already achieved what we want to achieve act and behave? What values do they have? Are you being realistic in how you are going to achieve the goal you have set or will you just fumble through life hoping that by some happy accident all your dreams will come true?
Let's look at this another way. What actions do you take each and every day in order to progress your skills and attitude to the point where your goal can become a reality? Are you taking any actions? Or are you just doing what you normally do but hoping that because you "set a goal" that something amazing will happen?
People love events but people don't like processes. Unfortunately, the process is the most important part of achieving any goal. Think about it. We love to see the pounds just melting away (the event), but we don't like to eat healthily and exercise strenuously each day (the process). We love to receive a great score on a test (the event), but we don't like all the homework and study that is required to make it happen (the process). As I said, people love events but people don't like processes.
This is exactly what happens in our studies. Most students have a dream of that going to College or University, or having a great career one day or of starting their own business, but the process of actually getting to that level of education is often long and painful. All of the homework, the tests, the exams and the assignments required to get good grades can really break the back of even a student with the best intentions!
However, for those of us who make a choice to go through the process, the events are extra sweet. A top grade, getting into College, winning the Super Bowl, or running a four minute mile are all events that happened because the person made a decision and went through the process.
This is a significant distinction in terms of goal setting and goal achievement. Keeping in mind that because we love events and not processes, it stands to reason that we will struggle to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Why? Well we don't want to go through the hard yards to make it happen. We just want the event - the goal being achieved! Make sense doesn't it?
So, when you set a goal you need to consider the process of how this goal is going to come about. If you decide that you want to get an A+ in Maths (and by the way rule number one of goal setting is to make the goal specific not airy fairy like "I want to improve in Math") then what you really need to ask yourself is "Who do I need to become to achieve an A+ in Maths? What actions do I need to take on a daily basis to achieve an A+ in Maths?"
Achieving goals doesn't happen by chance. You must understand what the goal is and why it is important - and then you must make the decision to go through the process in order to reach the event. If you focus on the event (which is what we are inclined to do) you will find it very difficult to get through the process. If you focus only on the event, the process won't happen and the goal won't be achieved. What will you decide?
At the next stage of goal setting we must ask ourselves not how are we going to achieve the goal but who do we need to become in order to achieve it? What specifically are the actions and mindset required to make the goal a reality? How does someone who has already achieved what we want to achieve act and behave? What values do they have? Are you being realistic in how you are going to achieve the goal you have set or will you just fumble through life hoping that by some happy accident all your dreams will come true?
Let's look at this another way. What actions do you take each and every day in order to progress your skills and attitude to the point where your goal can become a reality? Are you taking any actions? Or are you just doing what you normally do but hoping that because you "set a goal" that something amazing will happen?
People love events but people don't like processes. Unfortunately, the process is the most important part of achieving any goal. Think about it. We love to see the pounds just melting away (the event), but we don't like to eat healthily and exercise strenuously each day (the process). We love to receive a great score on a test (the event), but we don't like all the homework and study that is required to make it happen (the process). As I said, people love events but people don't like processes.
This is exactly what happens in our studies. Most students have a dream of that going to College or University, or having a great career one day or of starting their own business, but the process of actually getting to that level of education is often long and painful. All of the homework, the tests, the exams and the assignments required to get good grades can really break the back of even a student with the best intentions!
However, for those of us who make a choice to go through the process, the events are extra sweet. A top grade, getting into College, winning the Super Bowl, or running a four minute mile are all events that happened because the person made a decision and went through the process.
This is a significant distinction in terms of goal setting and goal achievement. Keeping in mind that because we love events and not processes, it stands to reason that we will struggle to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Why? Well we don't want to go through the hard yards to make it happen. We just want the event - the goal being achieved! Make sense doesn't it?
So, when you set a goal you need to consider the process of how this goal is going to come about. If you decide that you want to get an A+ in Maths (and by the way rule number one of goal setting is to make the goal specific not airy fairy like "I want to improve in Math") then what you really need to ask yourself is "Who do I need to become to achieve an A+ in Maths? What actions do I need to take on a daily basis to achieve an A+ in Maths?"
Achieving goals doesn't happen by chance. You must understand what the goal is and why it is important - and then you must make the decision to go through the process in order to reach the event. If you focus on the event (which is what we are inclined to do) you will find it very difficult to get through the process. If you focus only on the event, the process won't happen and the goal won't be achieved. What will you decide?
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the premier resource for learning new study skills, transforming your study habits and discovering the best studying tips available. We will help change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | How To Set Goals
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