Importance of setting goals

Importance of Goal Setting

By: Mark Divine

September 20,2017

Goal-setting is an integral piece of the Big Four of Mental Toughness incorporated in the Navy SEAL’s program. It’s that important. We’ve developed an all-inclusive umbrella model for goal-setting and we take it as seriously as any other facet of mental toughness.

Without goals, it becomes difficult to measure success. The other aspect to goal-setting importance is the fuel it grants the warriors as they grow winded on their journey. The road to success—any success—is usually one filled with obstacles, difficulties, and setbacks.

Efficient goal-setting mitigates some of the stress, volatility, and doubt that marries parts of the journey. By setting certain waypoints, ensuring that those waypoints align with your purpose and objective vision of success, then ensuring that the path to achieve those waypoints (goals) is realistic, you can create a measurement of your journey that will effectively propel you forward.

The overt point A to point B needs to be filled with a series of different point A’s to point B’s threaded throughout the journey – otherwise progress will be difficult to gage. If progress becomes difficult to measure, then I know from personal experience that it’s easier to feel discouraged and allow negative thoughts to take control.

Lastly, goal setting allows you to be an architect with your vision. A trait that allowed me to thrive within the SEALs program is my ability to visualize success. However, I didn’t just wake up one morning knowing that I was going to fulfill my ambition and achieve what I coveted… it took careful training to solidify that vision.

One of the building blocks of envisioning success is accurate and efficient goal-setting, as the right targets allow you to align your purpose and lay the blueprint for what your future is going to look like.