The questions that usually come up when it comes to setting goals are, how to set realistic goals, what goals to set, and more. One thing that doesn’t get brought up that often is how goals and emotions tie in with one another. In this article, we’re going to dive into how they are interconnected and why understanding this relationship is crucial for effective goal setting and achievement.
How Goals And Positive Emotions Actually Work Hand In Hand
When we think about goals and emotions, we tend to think about how negative emotions could derail our goal achievement. But what if I told you that having goals that are worthwhile could actually enhance your positive emotions and contribute significantly to your overall well-being? This idea is succinctly captured by Jordan Peterson when he discusses the importance of pursuing meaningful goals:
“Almost all the positive emotions that you’re going to experience in your life… you’re going to feel in relation to a goal, because you feel positive emotion as you approach a goal. So if you want to feel positive emotions then you need a goal… You need a goal that’s worthy. You’ve got to think you could. You need a goal that justifies the tragedy and malevolence of life.”
This perspective shifts the focus from the potential negative impact of emotions on goal achievement to the positive influence that pursuing valuable and meaningful goals can have on our emotional state. It suggests that the act of striving towards a significant goal can be a source of positive emotions, providing motivation and a sense of purpose.
How Setting Meaningful Goals Could Improve Our Emotions
You may be wondering, “how exactly does this work?”. Well, below we will dive into some ways setting meaningful goals could improve our emotions and overall emotional well-being.
Reduced Anxiety
Many negative emotions, like anxiety, stem from not knowing where you’re going in life. When we set meaningful goals that align with who we are, it provides direction and purpose. This instills confidence that we’re moving positively versus wandering aimlessly, dramatically curbing general anxiety. Targeted worries shift too – rather than diffuse concerns about the future, we can focus constructively on overcoming specific obstacles in our path.
Reduced Fear And Doubt
When we don’t have clarity on our direction, it’s easy to become plagued by fear and self-doubt. Feelings of being “stuck” with no path forward can damage self-confidence. However, committing to ambitious, values-aligned goals diminishes these emotions. Pushing beyond comfort zones into unfamiliar terrain is scary, but each small win accumulated builds our belief in personal capacity. Bit by bit, we gather hard evidence through achieving milestones that we are growing. And any lingering self-doubt is quelled each time we reflect – “if I could accomplish that, what else am I truly capable of?”. By proving we can live up to lofty self-expectations, fear and uncertainty about the future transform into inspired eagerness for the next challenge.
