What’s up ONEMORE fam!
We all know how important goal setting is and in this blog post we want to dive deep into what the difference is that really makes the difference between failed and successful goals.
Setting goals involves more than simply deciding what you want to accomplish; it involves challenging our thinking, structuring our actions, and laying out a plan for achievement. This procedure goes beyond motivating tactics. It is intricately linked to the neurological processes that influence our perception, actions, and general mental health. The world of goal setting, its neurological effects, and four essential components of successful goal setting will all be covered in this blog post.
Systematizing Goal Setting
Setting goals in a systematic manner can greatly increase their effectiveness.
The SMART goals method is one useful framework. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound are all acronyms for SMART goals.
These guidelines help you develop goals that are measurable, practical, consistent with your values, and have a clear schedule.
1. Specific: Your goal should be clear and specific to provide direction.
2. Measurable: Define metrics to track your progress and stay motivated.
3. Achievable: Ensure your goal is realistic and attainable to avoid setting yourself up
for failure.
4. Relevant: Your goal should align with your broader life objectives.
5. Time-bound: Set a deadline to create urgency and foster commitment.
The Three Pillars of Goal Setting
Now, let's delve into three vital aspects of goal setting: clarity, challenge, commitment, and feedback.
1. Clarity: Goals must be clear and understandable. Ambiguous or unclear goals lead to confusion and lack of direction. Clearly defined goals, however, provide a sense of purpose and direction.
2. Challenge: Goals should be challenging but achievable. Setting high but realistic goals boosts our motivation and engagement.
3. Commitment: You should feel a strong sense of commitment to your goals. This commitment often comes when the goals align with your values or long-term objectives.
The Neurological Effects of Goal Setting
Setting goals takes advantage of the fact that the human brain is a goal-seeking entity. Setting goals neurologically activates our brain's reward system.
Dopamine and Reward
Dopamine, the neurotransmitter, is essential for driving behaviour towards reaching objectives. When we set a goal, it is released, and as we approach it, it is released more and more. This dopamine release makes the path to the goal joyful, inspiring us to move forwards with our goal.
Focus and the Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Setting goals requires a lot of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in our brains. Similar to our brains filter, it enables us to pay attention to information that is pertinent to our objectives and eliminate distractions. The RAS marks; information associated with a goal as essential when we set one, increasing our propensity to notice and pay attention to things that may aid in achieving our goal.
Neuroplasticity and Habit Formation
Last but not least, goal-setting on a regular basis encourages neuroplasticity, the formation of new neural pathways. Our brains change as we work towards a goal over time, making it simpler to stay focused and carry out constructive behaviours. This serves as the foundation for habit formation, which is essential for achieving long-term objectives.
Conclusion
Setting goals is an essential component of human cognition and serves as more than just a tool for success. It aids in attentional focus, activates the reward system, and promotes long-lasting behaviour modification. We may position ourselves for success by systematising our approach to goal planning and comprehending the four pillars of clarity, challenge, commitment, and feedback.
The journey, the growth, and the person we become along the way are more important than simply achieving the end result. We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and got some value out of it and remember one thing: When it comes to your personal goals, fam, set your standards high and your goals higher!
Let us know below what your goal is for this month and what you’re willing to sacrifice to achieve it, we’re thrilled to hear from you.