Is Setting Goals the Key To Happiness?

Every December 31, millions of people the world over celebrate the coming of the new year. We pop champagne, watch fireworks, and some of us set resolutions. Many of us start off strong on those resolutions, going to the gym daily, eating better, not buying a new pack of cigarettes, all fueled by the new year's motivation. Over time though, that motivation fades. As January rolls into February, the ambitious goals we set become a never ending treadmill. We don't feel energized by the positive change so much as burdened by hurdles we still have to face. What if there was a better way? And what if it wasn't just reaching your goal that brought you happiness, but the process of envisioning the future that made you a more positive person?

I've been on the new years resolution treadmill pretty consistently for the last five years. I'd write out a number of goals, post them up in my office and try to remind myself of the positive outcome if I just stuck with them. I've had mixed results. Did I read a book a month one year? Sure, I read more than that. Did I cut back my credit card usage? Only for a couple months, then I went right back to my regular (over)spending habits. What I've been lacking is reinforcement. I make the big plans in January, but by March the fuel is burnt and I don't have the same vision as when I started the year. What I've been missing is that consistency of vision and I think I've seen the solution.

In her book 'The How of Happiness' Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky details a planning exercise where you journal about what your ideal life looks like. The thinking is, optimism is like a muscle and most people aren't in the habit of flexing it. By making an effort to be more optimistic, writing out an idealized future every day, you train yourself to be more optimistic. With time and training, you naturally become better and faster at being optimistic until it becomes part of your every day life. I'd think that is a pretty good trade off, you get to day dream for a bit and you are happier.

Another positive side-effect, you may realize some of your 'wildest' dreams aren't all that wild and are within your grasp. Maybe in the process of writing, you discover that you really want to pick up a new hobby that you've been putting off for years. Perhaps you want to donate more time to a cause you believe in. Maybe you just want to connect with friends and family more. By identifying what your ideal life looks like, you will also be able to come up with the steps to make those dreams come true. Getting in touch with friends more frequently or volunteering at a local charity may just require blocking off time on your schedule. By writing down what you want in your life, you get a chance to analyze it and take steps to make it happen.

So, my new goal is to make keeping a journal a consistent habit. I'll focus on my ideal life, build up a compelling image of what that perfect future will look like, then work backwards with how to get there. I know I've still got a mountain to climb to make it happen, but I don't need to suffer on the resolution treadmill. All I'll have to do is imagine, plan, then execute what I put to paper. I'm sure it won't be easy and I'm equally as sure it will be worth it.

To get back to the question of the day, is setting goals the key to happiness? Maybe. Can it help? Definitely. As long as it isn't just a one time thought but a consistent and integral part of your life, you can definitely be happier if you work towards goals that get you to your ideal life.

What do you think? Do you keep a journal where you write about your future? Do you have any big goals you are working towards? Please let me know, and as always, have a wonderful day.

Matt