The role of values when setting goals
Setting goals and achieving them is important for both personal and professional development. However, what many people overlook is the significance of knowing and understanding the role your values play when trying to reach those goals. Values are the things that are important to you and what you hold in high regard. Your values act as the guiding principles that shape your actions, decisions, and priorities. They define what truly matters to you and what you deeply believe in. When your goals align with your values, when they are meaningful to you, you’re more likely to achieve them. Read about identifying and living by your values Why values matter in achieving goals Values play an important role in achieving goals because they provide a framework for decision-making and prioritization. When you are clear about your values, you can easily evaluate whether a goal is aligned with what’s important to you. When your goals are aligned with your values, you are driven by a sense of meaningful purpose that can help you stay motivated and committed to your goals, even in the face of challenges. By knowing and understanding your values, you gain a deeper insight into your true self, enabling you to set authentic goals that resonate with your innermost desires. This alignment leads to a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction as you make progress towards your goals, How to set goals that align with your values One way to start, is to examine your values and create goals that align with them. For example, if one of your values is self-care, your goals might include eating well, spending more time engaged in hobbies, or achieving a better work-life balance. If one of your values is friendship, your goals might include calling your friends more often, spending more time with your friends or being a better listener when your friends share their stories with you. Another way to start is to set a goal and then evaluate whether it aligns with your values. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, check to see if this aligns with any of your values such as health, self-care, beauty, confidence. If your goal is to buy a house, check to see if this aligns with any of your values such as achievement, security, stability, success. If your goal aligns with your values and if it contributes to your overall vision of a fulfilling life, you’re on the right track. Whenever it becomes difficult to pursue your goals, focusing on your values (and why you set this goal in the first place) can provide strength and motivation to overcome challenges and obstacles and stay on track. If your goal doesn’t align with your values or conflict with other values that are more important to you, consider modifying, delaying, or discarding them in favour of ones that align better. For example, let’s suppose your goal is to buy a house and one of your values is financial security. If financial security is at the top of your list as a highly important, non-negotiable value, depending on your current financial situation, buying a house might bring short-term gratification but it may not align with your long-term vision. So, it might not be a suitable goal for you right now. When your goals are not aligned with your values, you may experience a sense of conflict and lack of fulfillment. It is important to regularly evaluate your goals in the context of your values to ensure that you are on the right path and working towards what truly matters to you. List of Values Conclusion Take the time to identify your values and ensure your goals align with them. Re-evaluate as needed. It’s perfectly fine to adjust, postpose or change a goal that isn’t really working for you. Focus on your long-term vision rather than short-term gratification. Your values-driven goals will lead to a sense of fulfillment as they are based on what truly matters to you and they create a sense of authenticity and congruency in your life. When your goals are aligned with your values, every step you take towards achieving them brings a deep sense of purpose and satisfaction. Blog Disclaimer
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As of the date of this post, we are one week into 2024. Did you make any resolutions for for this new year? How about last year? And did you manage to follow through? As I’m sure you’ve heard (or know from your own experience), very few completely follow through with their new year’s resolutions. But why is it so hard to follow through? There are several reasons, including: They’re currently unattainable Sometimes we make resolutions that are unrealistic or too difficult. They may require resources that we don’t have, or they may require changes in behaviour, habits, or lifestyle that we are either unable, unwilling, or unready to change at this time. Strategy for success: Set specific realistic, attainable resolutions that are within our abilities and means. We're thinking about what we should do rather than what we want to do Resolutions are more likely to succeed when they align with our desires, interests, and values. When our resolutions are based on what we truly want rather than what we perceive is expected of us or what we feel we should do, we are more likely to stay committed and motivated to achieve them. Strategy for success: Ensure our resolutions align with our desires, interests, and values. We aren’t ready It’s traditional to make New Year’s resolutions and in theory, it does seem like the perfect time to make a change or a new start, but sometimes we're not mentally or emotionally prepared to make the necessary changes. It takes time to prepare for change, and without the right mindset, it becomes difficult to commit to and maintain new behaviours or habits. Strategy for success: Make sure we are mentally and emotionally ready to commit to change. If the start of the new year is not the right time for us, that's okay. The resources we need aren’t available Without access to resources, achieving our resolution becomes challenging. Whether it's information, skills, funds, time, or external support, having the necessary resources can significantly impact our ability to succeed. Strategy for success: Identify the resources that are necessary and ensure that we either have them or have the means and ability to acquire them. We don't have a plan Planning may seem like a chore, but some of us need this kind of structure. Planning provides a roadmap to help us stay on track, especially during challenging times. Strategy for success: If winging it doesn't work for us, it can be helpful to set goals and define measurable milestones, targets, and deadlines. We should also try to anticipate obstacles and challenges and how we can overcome them. We aren’t motivated enough Sustaining motivation over an extended period can be challenging, especially when faced with setbacks which can lead to giving up on our resolutions. Strategy for success: Maintain focus on why we chose the resolutions we did and reward ourselves when we reach a goal or milestone. Our priorities or values changed As life evolves, changes in personal or professional circumstances can alter our priorities or values leading to a shift in focus away from our initial resolutions. Strategy for success: Modify or change our resolutions. Or accept that this may no longer be the right time – or that perhaps our resolutions are no longer a good fit for us. We don’t have enough faith in ourselves Self-doubt can be an obstacle to achieving our resolutions. Believing in our ability to make the desired changes and overcome challenges is necessary for success. Without self-confidence, it's easy to become discouraged and give up on our resolutions. Strategy for success: Focus on our strengths and positive qualities. Find friends, family or other sources of support who are willing to be our cheerleaders. If self-doubt is a pervasive issue, consider seeking the support of a therapist. In Conclusion Making and keeping resolutions is a common challenge, but by understanding the potential obstacles and implementing effective strategies that work for us, we can significantly improve our chances of success. With clear intentions, realistic goals, and a well-defined plan that aligns with our priorities and values we can turn our resolutions into achievements. Blog Disclaimer |
Hello, and welcome! My name is Karen. Based in Ontario, Canada I provide online therapy for individuals who are looking for a supportive space to express themselves, reduce stress and anxiety, discover their identity, and develop greater confidence. Read more about me... Categories
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