I recently had a conversation with one of my former students.
She has been out of school for a few years now but isn't
satisfied with the direction her career has taken. In fact,
she's not too happy with her personal life either. Her voice
developed more than a touch of whine as she said: "I don't know
what to do." 

I recently had a conversation with one of my former students.
She has been out of school for a few years now but isn't
satisfied with the direction her career has taken. In fact,
she's not too happy with her personal life either. Her voice
developed more than a touch of whine as she said: "I don't know
what to do." 
 
So I asked her about her goals. Her response was a rather
slack-jawed look of surprise. "Goals?" Well at least she wasn't
whining anymore. 
 
I asked her what she would like to see her career in a few
years. I asked her where she'd like to see her life in a few
years. She knew the answers to those questions and quickly
became animated as she discussed her desire to start her own
business. We talked about what she would need to accomplish her
goal and what she would have to change. 
 
When we parted ways she felt a lot better about her job because
she knew that she wasn't trapped in it. She was taking a
necessary step to prepare herself for a long-term goal. She had
her eye on the prize and that focus energized her. 
 
That is the power of goals. What are your goals? There are
seven reasons why you need to have goals. 
 
~ To give direction to life 
~ To make sure we are the one choosing the direction of our
life -- not others, not fate, not the media, etc. 
~ To motivate 
~ To make sure we get what we want from life 
~ To save time 
~ To reduce stress 
~ To give a sense of accomplishment 
 
While it can be fun to live without direction in the
short-term, in the long-term human beings are wired to need a
purpose and direction. Goals give a sense of direction and
purpose to life. 
 
It is often easy to let others set our direction for us. We
take a job because family or friends point us in that direction
and then we follow the dictates of our bosses. We move in other
directions because popular culture or the media tells us to do
so. The simple truth is that if we do not set our own goals
then we will find it too easy to follow a path set by others.
This can lead to stress and unhappiness. We have a greater
chance of happiness and fulfillment following our own path and
pursuing our own goals. 
 
While goals certainly give our lives direction, they also
provide the motivation to get us through difficult times and
choices. Perhaps going to college at night while working
full-time may be stressful and difficult in the short-term, but
in the long run being able to pursue the professional goals we
desire will make it worthwhile. 
 
Goals also serve as the destination for what we really want out
of life. For some people, goals are measured in money or
material goods, while for others goals are measured in time or
freedom. If we do not have goals outlined that suit our unique
perspective on life it is easy to become sidetracked by life
and others. 
 
Goals can also help save time. When your "To Do" list becomes
too long and your calendar too full, then you can simply
compare your goals to the list. What items help you achieve
your goal? What items are necessary to your goal? Scratch off
the rest as unimportant. 
 
Just as goals save time they also reduce stress because using
your goals to focus your life and choices makes it easier to
make those choices. Should you take that new position at work?
How does it match your goals? 
 
Finally, goals give you a measurable sense of accomplishment.
Every goal you achieve, in fact every step you make toward that
goal, can give you a boost of energy and momentum to keep going.
Each success powers you toward the next level of success. 
 
Now go out and set your goals!


About The Author: Deanna Mascle publishes the ezine
http://wordsofinspirationonline.com and blog
http://smilesbydawggone.com