Purpose-driven lives are directed by well-defined life goals. To learn how to set goals, you will want to engage in life goal setting exercises that will help you identify what your priorities are, what areas of your life need attention and what areas of your life are already in line with your end desires.
Life Goal Setting Exercise
Evaluate Your Satisfaction Levels
Take the time to evaluate the following areas of your life: health, discipline, work, hobbies, finances, relationships and spirituality. List out the areas in each category where you feel you are satisfied and dissatisfied, making two columns. If you'd like, you can rate your satisfaction for each area in each category. Now number your lists, arranging the areas of concern by priority. For example, your health category list may look like this:
My Health Goals
1. Weight
2. Fitness
3. Eating Habits
4. Blood Sugar Level
5. Blood Pressure Level
Satisfaction Level (scale of 1 to 10)
1. 5 (Want to lose 20 pounds)
2. 7 (Currently walk daily)
3. 4 (Know I need to eat healthier)
4. 4 (Want to control my diabetes with diet)
5. 10 (Have brought blood pressure down)
Your work category might look like this:
My Work Goals
1. Want to retire early
2. Want to practice law
3. Finish law school
4. Finish college
Satisfaction Level (scale of 1 to 10)
1. 10 (Long term goal currently on track)
2. 10 (Long term goal currently on track)
3. 10 (Long term goal currently on track)
4. 10 (Long term goal, almost finished)
Do this for each major life category, identifying which life goals you are proud of, and which goals you feel need attention. The example listed above shows that the person has obviously prioritized his or her schooling and career, but has neglected his or her health to the point of dealing with obesity, diabetes and blood pressure health complications.
Identify Your Life Goals
Take a good look at your lists. Identify what life categories are most important to you. Are family relationships your number one priority right now, or is running your own business your primary goal? Arrange your life categories in order of priority, then highlight the areas within each category in which you would like to see improvement.
Divide Your Goals Into Two Categories
Decide which life goals are long term goals and which are short term goals. Use the short term goals to supplement your long term goals. You may want to divide your goals into categories divided by time spans such as five year, ten year, 20 year and 30 year goals.
Write a Personal Mission Statement
Using the list of long term goals, write out a mission statement for your life, defining which goals are important to you for the long term. A classic life goal mission statement might declare you wish to be known as someone who valued family and friendships above all else.
Evaluate Your Goal Lists
Imagine you are reading the epitaph on your gravestone when you read your mission statement and goal lists. Do these goals reflect who you are? Work with your lists until your true priorities shine forth.
 | Goal setting is a great self-motivator to help you stay on track with creating the life you want to live. Start by defining your goal or goals, creating a timeline and making use of goal setting tools to chart your progress and keep you moving in the right direction. |
 | You've set some personal goals, but are afraid you won't actually achieve them. Goal setting is one thing, but achieving your goals is another. Try the following strategies for actually reaching goals. |
 | Learning how to set goals and following a goal setting plan helps keep you focused not only on what you want to accomplish, but how to accomplish it (realistically). |
Keeping goal setting checklists can help you monitor what progress you have or have not made, what problems are setting you back and if you are remaining focused on your goal or not. |
Your guide to personal goal setting and achievement. Learn why goal setting is important for personal goals, how to define your life goals and how to work with goal setting checklists. |
