Determining your needs, wants and dreams.
When you first decide to set a goal for yourself you will need to know what it is that motivates you to set the goal in the first place. Goals can be set according to needs, wants or dreams: "Am I setting this goal to fulfill a need? Am I setting this goal to obtain something I want? Am I setting this goal to see my dreams become a reality?" In most cases folks that are unable to reach their goals, set their goals initially without considering the viability of the goal, the viability of the steps that need to be taken in order to reach it, and the importance of achieving the goal; how reaching it will ultimately affect their lives. For example; one man would like to own a large house; however, he only earns enough to pay for the small house he has at present, and provide education and food for his children. Realistically - unless he happens upon a windfall, or he is able to begin in a new line of work where his salary will be triple what it is at present, his chances of ever owning a large house are slim. Therefore, trying to set goals that will render him the owner of a large house would be pointless unless he is prepared to make drastic changes to his scenario. He would be setting goals that are not viable – unachievable at present. Waiting for a windfall would not require him to set any goals at all. He can, however, choose to improve his financial situation by beginning in a new line of work. Hence, the goal setting begins. All of his short term goals would be centered on his 'dream' of owning his own large house – which would ultimately become his long term goal. You may say; why is this a 'dream' and not a 'want'? A dream at first may seem as though it has little viability; the chances of it materializing or manifesting are slim, especially if this is dependent on outside influences and circumstances. The base for the man's feelings for his dream can be likened to a 'want' – yes. He wants to own a large house, but it's more than that. Dreams make us extremely happy. If they didn’t they would be called 'nightmares'. Another difference is that even though getting what we want can make us extremely happy too, obtaining your wants can happen in the short term, while dreams can usually only ever happen in the long term. A dream is also nearly always based on a longing, whereas wants are usually easier to obtain. Wants are also often based on impulsive decisions, or decisions that will only fulfill a desire now. There are nearly always definable steps that can be taken in order to get what you want, and getting what you want is usually always possible. If there is a substantial element of doubt – it can be termed a dream. Therefore, the major difference between a dream and a want is the viability or 'chances of' the desired outcome ever materializing or manifesting. Another difference between wants and dreams is that sooner or later a 'want' is either granted or denied, and then the wanting ends definitely. Dreams on the other hand can linger and never be put aside. Frustration is a major disease when it comes to setting goals where need, wants and dreams are concerned, mostly because if one has a dream and wants to reach it but they can barely fulfill their present needs, they may turn to blaming the world, or may turn inward and begin to feel as though they will or have failed. This is where the individual has to be rational, logical, practical and realistic – put the dream aside for a while and concentrate on what's important for the now. That's the great thing about dreams remember, they are always for the long term, and don't need to be rushed into. In summary - needs are the things that we as humans require to survive. On a very basic level this includes food, water, shelter, education and medical care too. These are physical, however. Emotional needs, which are also important, are covered in more depth in the following chapter. You can determine your needs by simply taking a look at what it is you need in order to survive, devoid of luxuries and tainting pleasures. Once you have determined your needs, and are able to determine whether or not these are obtainable, you can then take a look at your wants. Wants are things that we desire to have, things that we don’t necessarily need in order to survive. Your wants could be a new car, a great pair of sunglasses, a holiday to Mauritius, or to be a well-paid artist. Aspects like these are not needs required for survival. However, the last 'want' in the above sentence could have started out as a dream. Perhaps at the time the dream was created you were more interested in becoming a well-known or famous artist, rather than a well-paid one. Dreams are thoughts or images in your mind that you may turn to when you begin to wonder how life 'could' be if you lived in abundance in all areas of life. It's not too difficult to determine whether or not a goal is based on a need, want or a dream, in fact all you will need to do is be honest with yourself; knowing what you are and are not capable of accomplishing, and by living moralistically; knowing what is right and what is wrong.
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