The Importance of Goal Setting
What kind of goal setter are you? Are you mostly a wisher (you have a few goals), but you don’t really make any plans to carry out your goals so they are really just wishes? Maybe you are a goal planner, but poor executer (you set some goals, but you are not very good at planning and executing your goals)? Or maybe you are a master goal setter and planner who you have a 1-year plan, a 5-year plan, and a 10-year plan all set?
I would say I am a good planner, but I am only mediocre at executing my goals. I can come up the ideas and I know what I want to do, I can even design a plan to complete the goals, but I’m not good with the follow through and getting them done. But, I am working on making changes. I can see how setting goals makes a life-changing difference for me and it can for you too.
Note: I would like to thank Victoria Osborn for providing me a copy of Goals with Grace to review. All opinions in this post are my own. This post includes affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
This year, I have been a better goal setter. I don’t necessarily set long term goals. Many times I set simple goals and tasks to complete each day and if done correctly, these simple tasks will advance me toward my longer term goals. So instead of just haphazardly working on tasks, I can see how simple steps move me toward my bigger goals.
Have you considered what your life would look like if you set goals and reached the goals you set? Even if you didn’t fully reach your goals, what if you almost made it or completed some of your goals? Would you live in a different location? Would you have a different job? Maybe your goal is to lose weight or eat healthier? How would achieving these goals make a difference in your life? Is time you stopped having wishes and made these goals a reality?
3 Reasons to Set Goals
Goals Refine Your Purpose
As you start to decide what your goals will be, you will realize that setting goals helps you refine your purpose. Your goals will show you what you value most in this season of your life. You will set priorities and make decisions based on the purpose your define for yourself.
Let’s say you are a mom with small children or elementary age children, some of your goals might be:
- Spend personal time with each child every day
- Help them develop their unique skills and abilities through school and learning
- Help each child develop good character and recognize right and wrong
These goals refine your role as a mother. You could develop similar goals for your work, for your relationship with your spouse and your friends.
When we know our true and complete purpose in Christ and we know we doing the work He has planned for us, we will feel fulfilled knowing that we are living a life of purpose.
Goals Set Your Focus
Refining your purpose allows you to set your focus in each area of your life. You can focus on the areas of motherhood you feel are important, you can focus on growing your relationship with God, you can focus on spending more time with your spouse or growing more personal relationships with your girlfriends.
Your focus may also be on your work. Do you work outside the home, but want to be a stay at home/work from home mom? Have you set a goal to build a business that will allow you to accomplish this goal? You must set the goal so you have your focus on achieving this goal.
Setting your goals and giving yourself a focus allows you decide how to spend your time and gives you permission to spend time on what you value.
Goals Allow You to Design an Action Plan
A goal without an action plan is just a wish. When you give your goals action plans, it can be life changing.
[bctt tweet=”A goal without an action plan is just a wish. Goals with action plans can be life changing.” username=”@smartmomideas”]
Think of yourself as the architect of your life. How will you design an action plan for the goals you have set? You will no longer feel the need to ask what should I be doing? Your action plan will give you direction for every season of life.
Goals with Grace
Setting goals has become a very important part of my life this year. I am excited to share with you Goals with Grace a goal planning system that will help you refine your purpose, set your focus and take action on your goals too.
The Goals with Grace Goal Planning system will help you:
- Understand why you must do the most important things first
- Reduce your endless to-do list by defining your priorities & purpose
- Learn how to set PSMART goals your can achieve
- Set your goals into action
- Be accountable and make it happen
- Set and refine your goals through worksheets and assignments
- Basic, Deluxe and Premium versions are available to fit every budget
- And so much more…
Goals with Grace is not an overwhelming planning system. Each chapter or lesson can be completed as a daily assignment in 30 minutes to an hour. The worksheets and planner can be used again and again each time you want to set new goals.
Goals with Grace has 3 purchase options to fit any budget (the basic plan is just $10). Don’t miss this opportunity to start setting goals you can achieve.
Your Turn…
What goals have your set this year? How do you stay on target and make sure you achieve your goals? Don’t forget to tell me what new goals you are setting.
I love the goals you share as a mom. It definitely gives more purpose to a job that feels like there is no “payment.” Thank you for sharing on planner squad.
Hi Mandi, a mom’s work is a long term goal. We have to stay focused on the current work. Thanks for the encouraging word.
I love setting goals and more importantly, achieving them! But it does take focus. Thanks for sharing this post at Welcome Home Wednesdays!
Hi Erin, setting goals and achieving them is a great feeling, and gives us a reason to try again. I also like to set goals so I have a direction and purpose. Even if I fall short, I am still working toward that goal and purpose.
Thanks for yet another highly motivating and encouragingly practical post!
Thank you Michele.
Hey Rachel,
I found your post today on Sitting Among Friends.
Goal setting is such a great and powerful practice, isn’t it!
Your post is good and this book looks wonderful!
And, I love how you have set up the sales and the purchase options (I’ve just published a book and I’m helping some other friends to do the same.)
This is brilliant marketing!
Hope you have a wonderful day today~
Melanie
Hi Melanie, goal setting makes a huge difference in what I accomplish. I am continually refining my goals and resetting my plans to stay on target.