In last week’s episode of Potential Podcast, Jeff and I discuss setting Purpose Goals. Here’s we’ll dive into Purpose Goals a little deeper and provide 7 tips to help you along the way.
What Are Purpose Goals?
“Purpose Goal” is a term Jeff and I made up. – Basically these are goals that speak to you on a deeper level. These are the one that are intrinsic to your being, your heart-song. With these goals, it’s not about the goal or task itself, but about the process and the person you are becoming on the journey.
So often our goals and the paths we take in life to get there (like going to college, who to marry, or what size and shape your body “should” be, etc.) is based on parents, culture, society, and what you think you “need” to do. As opposed to what is really speaking to you to do and be.
It’s about where you are now, and where you want to go. It’s about aligning with your personal mission and values. And, as the name suggests, your purpose. Whereas S.M.A.R.T. goals are more external and are driven by external factors like time, Purpose Goals are about YOU. It’s more than the goal itself, it’s about the habits you cultivate so you can become holistically healthy and start to tackle the world as a stronger person (including emotional and mental) with stronger intrinsic value that allows you to achieve these purpose goals.
Example: If your goal is to be healthy, it’s not just about the steps or strategies to make you healthy. (Exercise, sleep enough, eat in a way that makes your body feel good, etc.) It’s also about the mindset and uncovering and overcoming limiting beliefs that will ultimately hold you back from allowing yourself to be healthy. (“My mom wasn’t healthy so I wont be either.”, “I don’t have enough time to be healthy.”, “My body is terrible so it’s not worth taking care of.”, etc.)
Purpose goals are hard and take work, but when you understand your why (the purpose) the what (the task list) becomes so much easier. – A big piece of this, is setting those personal values. Go to Potential Podcast Episode 2: Creating Family Values, we talk about creating your personal values. (It can absolutely apply to individuals as much as a family.)
7 Tips For Setting Your Purposeful Goals:
- You’ll know when it happens because you’ll be excited. How many times have you set a goal for yourself that made you miserable? I think people do this a lot with New Year resolutions. “I’m going to enjoy tonight because I have to stop [fill in the blank] tomorrow.” When it comes to a Purpose Goal, you’ll be excited to begin.
- Do what makes you forget to pee. Start thinking about what you enjoy doing. What is the thing that you get so focused on that you forget you have to pee? if you set a goal around what you are already excited about, you are more likely to achieve it.
- Remove perfection. Just start. The idea of waiting until things are “perfect” to start holds many back. Things will never be perfect. Just begin.
- Have milestones and wins along the way. Sometimes we get so focused on the big picture that we forget to celebrate our success along the way. Each step is a part of the journey and should be enjoyed and recognized.
- Constantly reflect. If you continuously evaluate your progress, you can learn from your mistakes and turn them into an opportunity for growth. You can also adjust the course as necessary when things feel off.
- Take a positive approach. Make goals about what you want to gain instead of what you want to lose. “I want to lose weight”, turns into “I want to feel energetic and beautiful in my body.”
- Tell It On The Mountain. When you put things out there, it’s incredible what can happen and what doors can open. Tell people about your goals.
Our mission is to help you reach your full potential. Goal setting is a piece of that. Our goals should be set in a foundation that is moving us toward our greater purpose. Think of goals as a spiritual component of your overall holistic health as opposed to things to do. Then we build habits, thought patterns, and daily efforts that take us toward that more meaningful purpose or impact on the world.
For further discussion on this topic, listen to Potential Podcast Episode 21: Setting Purpose Goals.