The Anatomy of a Goal That Will Provide You With Motivation
Without goals, there is no need to do anything other than maximize pleasure and minimize pain. However, as you probably already know, not all goals create motivation the same.
Goals that are too easy or too hard drive very little motivation. In addition, non-specific goals can’t do anything other than frustrate you.
Therefore, the basis for a goal that provides motivation is one that is very specific and only slightly difficult. But difficult enough to push you out of your comfort zone.
Next, the goal should also be process and not outcome focused. Process is about the present and outcomes are about the future, and motivation is only found in the present. Furthermore, outcomes are not within your control and processes are. As a rule of thumb, you always have more motivation when you know you’re in control.
Finally, your process-oriented goal should leverage your strengths. It’s a fact that you’re at your best when you’re doing what you’re best at, and that’s using your strengths. You can find your strengths in the activities you love to do or you could use something like the Gallup CliftonStrengths tool to find them. Regardless of how you do it, when your process leverages your strengths, motivation is effortless.
Once you have a goal that meets all of the above criteria, then you have the perfect goal to provide you with motivation.