Stop Doing This Type of Goal Setting
I came across an article today titled “Goal-Setting Secrets” on the Positive Psychology News website. In this article it suggest that there are two main types of goals:
- Approach Goals, and
- Avoidance Goals
Approach goals are those goals in which you are working towards a positive outcome. Avoidance goals are those goals in which you are seeking to avoid a negative outcome. It turns out that avoidance goals are unhealthy. As stated by positive psychology consultant Bridget Grenville-Cleave:
Research suggests that pursuing avoidance goals is detrimental to well-being. In one study, participants with a greater proportion of avoidance goals reported lower subjective well-being over the course of the semester and had lower well-being at the end of the semester than they had at the start. In another study therapy clients with more avoidance goals experienced smaller increases in subjective well-being than those with fewer.
The recommendation is to reframe avoidance goals into approach goals. For example, instead of setting an avoidance goal to stop over eating, set an approach goal to eat 6 small healthy meals a day.
The article referenced above continues with several other very good suggestions about goal setting. One of which I covered in this blog about how to balance intrinsic and extrinsic goals to maximize happiness.
With that said, goal setting is definitely more science than art. There are proven methods that lead to success. You would be wise to follow these methods to increase your chances of reaching your goals.