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Successful people say it over and over again. You have to have goals. Long term, medium term, short term, daily...they are essential for success.
But you may not understand exactly why they work.
See, it's not just that your mind gets excited about getting more stuff when you set a goal. It's that your mind is afraid NOT to get it.
Think about that for a second.
That may seem like a subtle distinction, but it's a critical one, and here's the reason: the pain of losing something is STRONGER than the pleasure of getting something of equal value.
That's not just a statement, it's a well researched psychological fact.
Loss-aversion is hard-wired into your brain. Making progress feels good, but moving backward hurts far more.
Okay, that's fine, but how does that relate to setting goals?
Here's the real key in all this: when you set a goal, your mind accepts that as the new norm. The expectation is set. Your reference point has moved. And anything less than that will feel like a loss whether you want it to or not. It's a function of your subconscious mind.
Here's a quote from Daniel Kahneman (nobel prize winning psychologist who specialized in judgement, decision making, and behavioral economics):
That's why goals are effective and essential for making progress.
They move the bar. Anything less feels like a loss, and your mind will fight hard to avoid a loss.
If you haven't taken the time to spell out your goals, to design your life as best you can, do it, and do it today.
If you need some direction on setting goals, try this. (video should start at 43 minutes, 38 seconds).
But you may not understand exactly why they work.
See, it's not just that your mind gets excited about getting more stuff when you set a goal. It's that your mind is afraid NOT to get it.
Think about that for a second.
That may seem like a subtle distinction, but it's a critical one, and here's the reason: the pain of losing something is STRONGER than the pleasure of getting something of equal value.
That's not just a statement, it's a well researched psychological fact.
Loss-aversion is hard-wired into your brain. Making progress feels good, but moving backward hurts far more.
Okay, that's fine, but how does that relate to setting goals?
Here's the real key in all this: when you set a goal, your mind accepts that as the new norm. The expectation is set. Your reference point has moved. And anything less than that will feel like a loss whether you want it to or not. It's a function of your subconscious mind.
Here's a quote from Daniel Kahneman (nobel prize winning psychologist who specialized in judgement, decision making, and behavioral economics):
we are driven more strongly to avoid losses than to achieve gains...and not achieving a goal is a loss
That's why goals are effective and essential for making progress.
They move the bar. Anything less feels like a loss, and your mind will fight hard to avoid a loss.
If you haven't taken the time to spell out your goals, to design your life as best you can, do it, and do it today.
If you need some direction on setting goals, try this. (video should start at 43 minutes, 38 seconds).
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