June 17, 2007
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What do you want out of life? Do most people achieve their life goals?
This is a Socrates Cafe post.
I think the answer to that question depends a little on what a goal is. There are many types of goals. An individual may have a short term goal of losing five pounds. That may not be a life altering goal depending on the person. Some of us constantly battle with that five pounds (or a good deal more than five pounds), but it does not really matter much if we actually reach the goal of losing it. For a high fashion model, that five pounds could have a real financial impact, making the goal of losing it much more significant.
Some people set goals that are really unobtainable. I would like to be taller, but at my age, that is not going to happen. Even when I was still growing, it is doubtful that I could have made it happen. I frequently see students set career goals that are not within their abilities. It is important for goals to be realistic.
Goals tend to vary with a person’s stage of life. When I was young, I had goals of graduating from college, marrying, and having children. I accomplished those goals. They are no longer on my active “to do” list.
One of my goals is to be really honest with myself. That’s been a goal for a really long time. It is not as easy as it sounds. We do not perceive ourselves the way that others perceive us. Of course, neither our own perceptions nor those of others is really totally accurate because they are colored by previous experiences, beliefs and biases. I do try to be honest with myself though. That is important to me.
Another goal is to be financially stable with enough money to pay my bills and do the things that I really want to do. My husband and I have worked hard at that. We shall see how well we succeeded.
A third goal is to be present for my family, giving them help and support and spending quality time with them. I feel good about my relationships with my children and grandchildren.
I am satisfied that I will reach or have reached the important goals in my life. Do most people feel that way? That’s a hard question to answer. I think it depends on the person. I think many people get frustrated because they set unrealistic goals. That leads to the attitude that someone or something else is keeping the person from reaching the goals and being successful. I think that most people are more in control of their goals and their lives than they think, but I am not sure that most people are realistic about the goals that they set. What do you think?
Comments (9)
They are good goals you sent for yourself Nancy.
Nance, how much joy and happiness should a person abandon in order to reach the goals you’ve indicated?
Socrates_Cafe, I think if a person has to abandon joy and happiness in order to reach goals, then perhaps the goals are not well chosen or well defined. Do you think goals are or should be the same for all people? Do all people achieve joy and happiness by the same means?
Nancy,
Yes I do. I think that 24 hour news programs stretch sometimes to fill in time slots and as a result show a lot of fluff.
Also 24 hour news organizations are more likely to talk about things like Paris Hilton because they have time they have to fill. If you only have an hour a night you are much more selective in what you report on.
Also with only one hour or so to report journalist are more careful in checking facts because they are not scrambling to just get something on the screen.
Many people has achieved goals that seemed at first to be unrealistic. How would you determine if a goal is realistic?
I totally agree with your blog! And with your comment in answer to Socrates Cafe’s question. I have had very simple goals, and have reached most of them—I think. The weight loss is still a struggle, though. I am inherently lazy, and because of that, I never thought to set lofty goals. I have been happy with my life, for the most part, and guess that is the main thing. If there is something I did not achieve, it is my own fault—I just didn’t want it badly enough .
I should also add that there were “goals” that I had when I was young, that God did not allow me to reach. Looking back, I thank him very much for that!
Worthwhile goals, and important ones too. I hope you realize everyone of them. I also agree that most people get frustrated and don’t realize their goals.
I tend to avoid goals and try to enjoy the moment. Most people don’t understand what I am talking about. For me life is now and if I look too far ahead I miss out on so many opportunities, but hey, I tolerate goal-setters because they tend to make my moment enjoyable.