You have likely heard of “SMART” goals. Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-bound.
You may set yourself up for success if you define your goals through this framework.
- But what if the goal is one that someone else (e.g., an employer) makes for you?
- Or a goal that you know is healthy for you but you lose interest in after a few weeks?
In these situations, it can be helpful to look more deeply into what makes a goal relevant.
It is critically important that your goals connect to your values.
Your values help you find purpose, meaning, and direction in your life. For example, you may most value: love, security, kindness, family, career, and intelligence.
Say your employer asks you to complete annual compliance training modules, but you are unable to connect why doing so is consistent with your values. Understandably, your motivation to complete this task will be lacking. Can you find a way to connect the purpose of this activity to your values?
Moreover, you may lose momentum in a goal that you set for yourself, if the task does not connect to what you find most meaningful. For example, you set a goal of walking 20 minutes at the end of each work day in an effort to improve your energy. You may find you enjoy this walk and it does help you feel a bit more energized, but after a few days you start to “prioritize” other activities (e.g. meetings, errands) in its place.
- It can be helpful to think deeply about which of your values this goal ultimately connects to, and why it is meaningful for you to exercise and have more energy at the end of the day.
- You may recognize that having energy at the end of the day helps you to remain engaged and verbalize your frustration less when spending time with your loved ones in the evenings.
- Walking ultimately connects to your values of family, love, and kindness.
The Next Time You Start To Lose Interest In A Goal:
- Recognize that this may mean its time to make a different goal and/or...
- You need to identify how the goal helps you live your values.