Did you know that less than 10% of people reach their goals in life? Moreover, those who have goals and who are actively pursuing them are — generally speaking — also happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. It seems like having goals in life goes a long way in increasing personal satisfaction.
I think this is something most of us can agree on. But there’s a bigger reason you should set goals — and it’s often overlooked or not even acknowledged.
However, I would say this is one of the most important reasons for goal setting.
Can you guess what it is? Most people have no idea. For this reason, I’m happy to fill you in. But first, I want to share a story with you to help illustrate my point.
New Goals Require New Standards
In 2019, I set the goal to run my first marathon. At the time, I had been working consistently for about a year (running, weight lifting, etc), so I thought it was the perfect objective to stretch and test myself.
I immediately began my training regime. I started running 4 to 5 days a week, and each week I would push myself to go a bit further and a bit longer than I did the previous week.
As a result, my endurance began to improve.
I was running longer distances in shorter amounts of time — I was becoming a better runner. For some reason, this was one of my goals in life that I felt extraordinarily attached to.
And after nearly two years of training, I did it, I ran my first marathon. However, due to COVID and the subsequent restrictions, I didn’t do it in the traditional fashion. But rather, I ran it on my own. I scoped out the path, trained relentlessly, and ran the 26.2 miles by myself with the support of some close family cheering me on along the way.
The Next Level
However, I didn’t stop there, a couple of months later, I took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — a martial art and combat sport. And after only a month of training, I competed in my first competition!
Even though I fell short of victory, something strange (but amazing), I was a new me.
I saw myself as an athlete, a person who eats healthy, exercises, takes care of, and values his body. My self-perception had completely transformed.
And now, I’m continuing on this path with more drive and vigor to accomplish my goals than ever before. And this translates quite well into every other area of my life.
Why Setting Goals is so Important
Sure, I accomplished my aims, and it was cool, fun, hard, challenging, and worth every painstaking moment. (victory is so sweet). But the real reward from achieving those goals was not the outcome per se, but rather, what the goals made out of me as a person.
Prior to any of those achievements, I wasn’t much of an athlete. Sure, I worked out weekly and watched my diet. However, once I set those aims, all of a sudden, my tenacity for health and fitness skyrocketed!
I began working out daily instead of weekly, I started juicing vegetables and took my nutrition more seriously.
And as a result, not only did I achieve my outcomes, but my self-image had completely transformed because of the lifestyle changes I underwent.
It was miraculous!
And this is the true power (and purpose) that setting goals in life provides you with — personal transformation. It’s through the process of achieving your goals that the dance of life happens.
The high and lows, peaks and valleys, ups and downs, etc. These experiences fortify and strengthen your character; allowing you to become more than you currently are.
This is how you reach new levels of personal success, and the real reason why you should set goals in life.
Begin Setting Your Goals Today!
What have you been waiting to do that you have yet to start? Save more money? Get on an exercise program? Look for a new job? Whatever it is, I invite you to stop making excuses and start making progress. Start setting your goals, begin looking at new objectives, and make headway toward them.
The growth and experience you gain as a person will transform what you think about yourself and the world around you in the most beautiful ways.
