Is there really any need to have Goals? “Goals” is something every motivational, self development book talks about. It is what every successful person talks about. It is what teachers, mentors, coaches, writes talk about. But does every field even present goals for the people who are in it?
For example; which goal a housewife is supposed to have? To take care of her family? To take care of her house? These are the tasks she’ll keep doing irrespective of rewards and goals. What is the goal of Mothers? To raise her children well. Again, this task will be performed invariable by mothers and they don’t need any “Goal setting” for it.
What about domestic help workers, nurses, garbage cleaners, vegetable vendors, drivers? Did they have the goal of doing what they are doing when they were growing up? If not, should they be depressed for rest of their lives? The answer is an obvious No.
I find the current prevailing Goal Setting approach too MBAish and business oriented. It lacks creativity and originality. You cannot get yourself to do what you intend to do by a set of algorithmic commands. Computers are better suited for taking systematic orders and producing output.
What humans need is motivation which comes from positivity which in turn comes from nurturing feelings be it from family, organization, country or even a pet! People do perform tasks which are mundane but a Goal cannot be fulfilled the way we cut vegetables.
Next time when you do your New year resolution, 5 year resolution or any other similar activity, do ask yourself these questions: Do I intend to do these tasks because I want them or because people want me to do? Will achieving these goals make me happy? And you’ll get a true picture of what your real goals are.
