Part 5 – Advanced Goal-Setting Techniques: Meaningful Goals

The next part of this How of Goal Setting series looks at having truly meaningful and important goals.

There is persuasive evidence that following your dreams is a critical ingredient of happiness. The type of goal or valued life task that you pursue determines whether the pursuit will make you happy. She suggests having 6 types of goals:

1. Intrinsic
2. Authentic
3. Approach
4. Harmonious
5. Flexible & Appropriate
6. Activity

1. Intrinsic

Your goals should be intrinsic – inherently satisfying and meaningful to you – besides just extrinsic. Intrinsic goals allow you to grow as a person, to develop emotional maturity and to contribute to your community. Researchers, according to Lyubomirsky, have shown that the pursuit of intrinsic goals is more likely to fulfill many needs and desires you might have. Extrinsic goals on the other hand often reflect what other people desire for you.

2. Authentic

Researchers Sheldon and Elliot have been studying what they call authentic goals, goals that you own that are self-determined goals deeply rooted in a person’s lifelong held interests and core values. Since these type of goals satisfy our innate needs and true values, it brings much happiness pursuing it.  “The more a goal fits your personality, the more likely the pursuit will be rewarding and pleasureful.”

3. Approach

Approach goals involve approaching a desirable outcome (become more healthy) verses avoiding (not being fat) a nondesireable outcome. Going toward a goal verses trying to avoid something negative as your goal helps you feel more motivated and thus more likely to achieve it.

4. Harmonious

Harmonious goals complement each other. The more that your goals are integrated or linked in some way the more you’ll be able to build up the momentum to achieve those goals. The opposite is conflicting goals which can cause stress because the goals are not in alignment.

5. Flexible & Appropriate Goals

These goals are all about understanding the right time and the right tasks.  At certain times in your life it is important to adapt your goals based on your life circumstances. The priorities that we place on our goals change with time and the more we flex with these changes the better.

6. Activity

Activity goals, things like joining a new organization and running a marathon, allow you to experience new challenges, take on new opportunities and encounter different situation to make you grow.  Pursuing activity-related goals produce a steady inflow of postive feelings and accomplishments.

After learning about these 6 types of goals that we should have, I would encourage you to look at your goals and identify the type of goal it is.  This way you can determine if your goals are on track with the 6 types explained above. If so, then you’ll more than likely feel happy as you pursue and achieve your goals.

p.s. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to take advantage of my free gift to you around developing your personal mission, vision and values at www.findingIT.com.

Tags: activity goals, approach goals, authentic goals, flexible and appropriate goals, happiness, happiness book. goal achievement, harmonious goals, intrinsic goals, Sonja Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness: The Scientific Approach to Gettin