Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Dynamics of Goals and Motivation

Every human action has a cause or motivation. It could be either instinctive action such as in the case of muscle reflex or it could be conscious action such as in the case of studying for an exam. Actions can be either merely reactive based on the present stimulus or it could be pro-active based on anticipated events and plans. As a species, we humans are largely distinct from other animals in terms of our ability to plan and imagine.

Pushing boundaries

Humans are capable of conceiving goals that are well beyond instinct and the need to survive. Humans tend to be more motivated if a goal is difficult to achieve. This is especially true if no human has achieved it yet. Even if a goal is impractical, dangerous or costly at first, human beings have this tendency to push the boundaries. Case in point is the exploration of Mount Everest.

Achievers in the fields of sports, business, politics, science and other fields are highly motivated and focused individuals. Their success is mainly made possible because of their goals. Hence, it is necessary to first clearly define goals before anything worthwhile can be accomplished. A person who does not have clear goal in life is like a sail boat without a rudder that is easily tossed by the wind.

Motivational focus

Goal and motivation form a dynamic continuum. They are intertwined and interdependent. No matter how difficult a goal might be, its probability of being achieved is highly dependent on the level of motivation. On the other hand, the strength of motivation is also dependent on the level of difficulty and desirability of a goal.

Setting goals will allow individuals to focus their resources, effort, talent and time. Concrete goals provide purpose and direction that will help individuals ignore distractions. These motivate people to act despite of difficulties in pursuing their dream and vision of the future.

Broad categories

Goals can be classified into different broad categories. People do not live inside a bubble and their pursuits are multi-faceted, which oftentimes are simultaneous. It is all about organizing and prioritizing sets of goals.

Personal goals can be classified into these broad categories:

Career: A person is usually identified with what they do either as a source of livelihood or as a calling. Very few people have jobs that they love that they consider their jobs as vocations. Hence, career can refer to a specific job or a vocation. Success in career largely determines the social status of people and all other aspects of their lives are usually connected to their success in their careers.

Financial: The financial aspect is directly dependent on career. The level of financial independence or wealth typically depends on the success in careers.

Family: Planning to get married or raising children is part of the common personal goals related to family. Purchasing a home, vehicles and insurance policies could also be included under this category. Family should always come first in the list of priorities. A career is typically only a means to provide for love ones.

Other broad categories of personal goals could include education, artistic pursuit, attitude improvement, pleasurable or hedonistic pursuits, and public service such as participating in cause-oriented organizations.


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