#psychology #goal
What Are Your New Year’s Associations? 🎄
Santa Claus? 🎅 A festive dinner table? 🍽 Gifts from a loved one? 🎁 Or perhaps it’s the time to reflect, set goals, and start fresh? 📝 But are we doing it the right way? 🤔

Having a goal can definitely keep us motivated. 💪 However, how many times have we postponed our dreams to the "next year"? Do we really believe that writing something on a piece of paper will magically make it happen? 🪄 Probably not. So why do motivational posts always insist on making goals their number one advice? 🧐

One reason is psychological. Studies show that doing something — even if it doesn’t directly influence the result — reduces stress, builds confidence, and gives our brain a sense of control. 😌 It’s like telling our brain: “We’ve got this under control.” This allows us to shift focus and move forward. That’s why people instinctively seek control, even in situations where they actually have none. 🎯

But has this alone made people successful? 🤷‍♀️ In truth, the feeling of control doesn’t significantly affect results and can sometimes even hold us back. ⚠️ However, goals have another, less obvious, but equally important benefit. ✨

What do people typically wish for? To become millionaires? 💵 To gain fame? 🌟 To find their soulmate? ❤️ To achieve stability? ⚖️ Or to colonize Mars? 🚀 Any of these goals are valid. But right now, they’re just words on paper. 📝 Reaching them requires action from the person, not the paper. 😉

To understand this better, let’s look at how our brain works. 🧠 If you think about it, the brain is like a computer: it processes situations, performs actions, and adjusts them based on feedback. 🔄 Similar to how a neural network functions. 🤖 Every day, we face hundreds of situations with millions of potential outcomes. 🌐 Some lead to success (e.g., striking up a conversation with someone who offers you a job 👔), while others are irrelevant or even counterproductive. ❌

The brain can’t process every possible option in real time. ⏱️ Moreover, situations that seem like stepping stones to success may lead us astray. For instance, being offered a high-paying but uninspiring job may seem closer to “becoming a millionaire,” 💰 but ultimately, it won’t bring long-term growth or help achieve your true goal. 🚧

This is why the brain needs a clear plan — specific instructions. 📋 Setting goals provides this structure. Breaking a goal into actionable steps narrows down the choices our brain has to consider, focusing only on events that lead us closer to success. ✅ In this way, a goal isn’t just a wish; it’s a command for the brain. 🧭

This post is simply about what goals truly are. 🎯 If you’re curious, I have a great strategy for setting the perfect goals. Let me know if you’d like to read about it in my next post! 🙌

I hope this post changes how you see your New Year’s goals. 🥳