Definition, 30 Examples, & Tips for Goal Setting

Some have hypothesized that meeting our needs is exactly what drives us, motivates us, and leads us to set goals in the first place (Greene, & Burke, 2007). This suggests that if the personal goals we set are related to an unsatisfied need, we may be more likely to stick to them.

Although there are numerous theories related to human needs, we’re going to focus here on Ryff’s theory because it incorporates and synthesizes several other older theories (Ryff, 1989). The resulting six experiences are experiences we all strive for. They can therefore be useful in helping guide us in setting meaningful, high-impact goals.

Six experiences we strive for related to personal goals:

• Positive relationships with others. We have a need to have warm, trusting, loving relationships with others.
• Self-acceptance. We have a need to have positive feelings towards ourselves.
• Autonomy. We have a need to be able to direct our own behavior, make our own decisions, and have freedom.
• Environmental mastery. We have a need to be able to change our circumstances and advance in the world.
• Personal growth. We have a need to learn and grow as a person. 
• Life purpose. We have a need to devote ourselves to something important or have a sense of meaningfulness or direction.

Anytime you set a personal goal, ask yourself if it helps satisfy one of these needs. I’ll give you some examples of how personal goals can satisfy these needs in a bit.

How personal values affect goals:
It’s also helpful when setting personal goals to keep in mind your values. If we are pursuing goals that are inconsistent with our values, we are likely to struggle, and we experience internal conflict. Make a note of which values below are most important to you.

Personal values list:
Authenticity              Adventure                  Balance
Bravery                     Compassion               Challenge
Citizenship               Community                 Creativity
Curiosity                   Determination            Fairness
Freedom                   Friendships                 Fun
Generosity                Growth                        Honesty
Influence                   Justice                        Kindness
Knowledge                Leadership                 Learning
Love                           Loyalty                        Openness
Optimism                  Recognition               Respect
Responsibility           Security                     Self-Respect
Social Connection    Spirituality                Stability
Status                         Wealth                        Wisdom

Anytime you set a personal goal, ask yourself if it goes against any of your key values. I’ll give you some examples below of how goal-value conflicts can potentially get in the way of achieving common goals.

Career goal example: To start your own business
Many of us have the personal goal to start our own business doing something they care about. This can fulfill needs like autonomy, environmental mastery, life purpose, and personal growth. Pursuing this goal can help us take control of our own lives and make meaningful changes. However, this goal may conflict with values like work-life balance, security, and loyalty (towards our existing employer). 

Financial goal example: To make a million dollars
Many people have the goal to make a million dollars, a seemingly magic number to achieve success and satisfaction. Indeed, reaching this goal might fulfill needs like autonomy and environmental mastery. If we can do this, we figure, then we can do anything. But we need to be careful about how we pursue this goal because it can conflict with values like kindness (depending on how we treat others to get this money) and fairness. 

Relationship goal example: To get married by age 30
Some of us have a goal to get married by age 30 and perhaps have kids shortly after. This goal can help us satisfy needs related to positive relationships and life purpose because family relationships can be especially strong, and raising kids tends to give parents a great sense of meaning. If this is a goal of yours, keep an eye out for conflicts with values like freedom and possibly fun (if you prefer to be doing things without your spouse or kids).

• Career goals. We may want to advance in our current career, switch to another career, or develop some new important aspect of our career.
• Financial goals. Many of us don’t have the number of financial resources we want or need to achieve other important goals. When setting financial goals, just be sure to keep your needs and values in mind to avoid conflicts.
• Relationship goals. We may want to find a romantic partner, build more friendships, or improve the quality of the relationships we already have. 
• Health goals. Given how unhealthy many of us are becoming, health goals are becoming a very common personal goal. These goals might include diet or exercise, but they might also include efforts to overcome a disease or physical difficulty.
• Educational goals. Education can be helpful for learning new, useful life skills, making more money, or making a career change.
• Self-development goals. Most of us have aspects of ourselves that we want to improve. Maybe we want to be a better public speaker, a kinder parent, or a master chess player. Self-development goals can include all sorts of things related to improving ourselves in some way.
• Experience goals. Many of us also have experience goals. We want to travel to Europe, see the colorful fish in the oceans of Hawaii, or attend a concert delivered by our favorite musician. These are also personal goals worth noting.
• Community goals. Another type of personal goal involves the goals we have that affect others. Maybe we want to pollute less, increase the number of books at the public library, or advocate for policy changes that would improve the lives of everyone.

1. Find a career that you love.
2. Find a life partner.
3. Become an expert or leader in your field.
4. Go for a walk every day.
5. Become a better listener.
6. Buy your first home.
7. Save X number of dollars for retirement.
8. Give back to your community in ways that matter to you.
9. Save enough money to buy something you’ve always wanted like a boat, cabin, or another item.
10. Learn how to dance.
11. Pay off your student loans.
12. Go on a trip with your best friends.
13. Lose 10 pounds.
14. Eat less sugar and junk food.
15. Get a degree in a subject that matters to you.
16. Read 1 new book per week.
17. Learn how to bake.
18. Get into graduate school.
19. Help someone else reach one of their dreams.
20. Write a book.
21. Go to Switzerland.
22. Visit all of the American national parks.
23. Cut your consumption of plastic in half.
24. Practice gratitude daily.
25. Improve your public speaking skills.
26. Learn a foreign language.
27. Forgive someone who has hurt you.

• Track progress towards personal goals. Find a way to record progress towards your goal so that you can see how far you’ve come.
• Modify your long-term goals. Often, goals will shift some as we move forward. So take the time to modify your goals and make sure you’re still heading where you want to go. ​
• Create your 10 year plan. Creating a 10 year plan can help you see how today’s goals can set you up for tomorrow’s goals. This can also help you avoid short-termism—it helps you make sure you’re setting the right goals for the long term.
• Break each goal into small pieces. When your goals are broken down into smaller pieces, it’s easier to see how each can be accomplished. This can give you more confidence that you can indeed reach your goals.
• Create a timeline for your goals. Try to estimate how long it will take to do each small piece of your goal. Then, map these pieces out on your calendar to estimate how long it will take you to self-actualize your bigger goal. Use this timeline to help you progress toward your goal.

• ​Greene, L., & Burke, G. (2007). Beyond self-actualization. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 116-128.
• Latham, G. P., & Locke, E. A. (2007). New developments in and directions for goal-setting research. European Psychologist, 12(4), 290-300.
• Lawlor, K. B. (2012). Smart goals: How the application of smart goals can contribute to achievement of student learning outcomes. In Developments in business simulation and experiential learning: Proceedings of the annual ABSEL conference (Vol. 39).
• Nair, K. S. (2003). Life goals: the concept and its relevance to rehabilitation. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17(2), 192-202.​
• Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of personality and social psychology, 57(6), 1069.