Goals


I've been reading another new book called Succeed by Ph.D. Heidi Grant Halvorson. It’s an interesting take on the psychology of people who succeed. One of the things studied in this book is the difference between people who set goals and achieve them and those who set goals but give up.

What I found really interesting is that people who believe they can reach their goals are 26% more likely to achieve them. That seems obvious—you’re more likely to achieve your goals if you actually believe you can. But there was another, more interesting difference between those who succeed and those who quit. People who believe they can succeed but know it will be hard are 300% more likely to succeed than people who think they can succeed but are unrealistic about how hard it’s going to be.

I definitely fall into the camp of always thinking, “How hard could it possibly be?” I never think anything is going to be that hard. These unrealistic expectations are definitely a hindrance to my goal-achieving capabilities. So how do we do both? Believe we can achieve but, at the same time, be realistic about how hard it’s going to be so we don’t quit when we face obstacles?

In her book, Dr. Heidi emphasizes the importance of being realistic by adopting what she calls a "WOOP" mindset (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan).

To become more realistic when setting goals, she suggests that you should visualize not only your success but also the obstacles you'll face. This process helps you prepare for difficulties in advance. Research shows that people who imagine the challenges and plan for them are more likely to succeed. It's about balancing optimism with a clear understanding of what might go wrong and being ready with a strategy to overcome those hurdles.

The key idea is that while optimism helps you stay motivated, realism—through anticipating obstacles—ensures you're prepared to handle setbacks. This balance makes achieving your goals much more likely.

Remember: "A goal without a plan is just a wish." – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Have a Great week!!!



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