That You Never Run Out Of Goals To Move Forward
In your mind and heart, there must always be a purpose for moving forward. This is what gives us a reason to get out of bed. An energy to believe that today will be better than yesterday. But also a sense to understand that life is always worth living. Few dimensions are as essential to mental health and personal growth as that of the vital goal.
When we have a conversation with someone who suffers from a mood disorder, this aspect comes out. Many people claim to have no purpose. Their reality is suspended in an absolute vacuum where nothing is illusory. Where everyday life is totally meaningless.
One can have hobbies, but not enjoy them. There are those who have partners, friends and family and yet feel nothing but emptiness.
These conditions are devastating and require a delicate and long psychotherapeutic process for the person to regain strength. You also have to reformulate your thoughts and find that emotional balance with which you can gradually rebuild and clarify the new goals on the horizon.
It should be noted that it is quite normal to go through this period when we are forced to reformulate our objectives. We all go through certain transitions, times when certain things need to be rewritten.
Breaking an emotional relationship, ending a work phase or even going through a certain adversity obliges us to define certain aspects.
However, this is a good thing. People are stories. Extraordinary stories that are constantly rewritten. As long as the ink exists to write down our goals, everything will be fine.
Goals for moving forward, the pillars of mental health
In 2016, Harvard University launched a research project to delve deeper into the concept of human flourishing. This dimension can be understood as something that transcends one’s own well-being. It is, above all, surpassing oneself and resilience. It is being able to use psychological strategies that allow us to cope with all circumstances and achieve happiness.
This research program has therefore been underway for several years . It is already clear that one of the fundamental pillars to achieve these goals is for people to work on their goals.
Giving meaning to our life, as Viktor Frankl would say, directly affects our mental health. This is confirmed by additional studies like the one published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2019.
According to this work, conducted by doctors Ying Chen and Erik Kim, having goals has an impact on physical health, psychological balance, self-esteem and the processing of emotions. These goals and the meaning that each one gives to his existence, act as an internal support where nothing weighs, where fears are not filtered and where we feel in balance, deluded.
What is “to have a purpose”?
At this point and knowing the importance of this dimension for the quality of our life, a question may arise: what is a real goal?
One thing we need to understand is that this is not just a goal. It is not to wish for a bigger house. It’s not about finding a better job. It’s also not about reaching an ideal weight or being consistent at the gym.
It is much more. The goals of life go beyond mere desire. These dimensions lift us up and position us, give us goals on the horizon, an illusion in the heart and a motivating force.
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explains in his book Flow: the psychology of optimal experience , that a goal establishes in our mind a stable intention towards something that is meaningful to us, something that goes beyond even ourselves.
An example of this would be helping others. Create something that inspires others (a book, a song, an art form). It could be learning, achieving greater wisdom. Also, to give happiness to our family, to take care of those we love.
That you never miss a goal to move forward
Mark Twain defined the two most important days of our life. The first, our birth. The second, the moment when we finally discover our reason for being, a meaning to our existence. Because sometimes, as we well know, life is difficult for us. It is not easy to determine what really sets our hearts on fire and makes them beat.
But there always comes a time when you feel the pinch, that passion and that sense. It is essential that we clarify them, that we never lack the determination to move forward. Because it is thanks to our goals that we can recover from adversity. Thanks to them, opportunities appear. They give us the optimism necessary to face challenges and illusions in times of storm.
On the other hand, as we pointed out at the beginning, the goals for moving forward can change at any time. Being 20 is not the same as being 60. Nor are we the same when we close one stage and start another, either emotionally or professionally. Suddenly, new needs, other feelings and new goals loom on the horizon and give birth to hope.
Let’s keep them in mind. We all have an inner flame that can fuel every dream, every path we take. Let’s light it up.
Our thoughts Some people look but don’t see, hear but don’t listen, and touch but don’t feel.
