Do your goals need a WHAT or a WHY?

Current research in motivation science suggests that goal setting and goal getting can be most beneficial if you choose “Why” orientation for some goals and “What” orientation for other goals.

If you need to get energized or motivated to complete a goal, use a “Why” explanation. For example, if you have a weight loss goal, think about all the reasons why you want to lose weight:

• Better health
• Looking great
• Easier to enjoy outdoor activities

It is much more motivating to think about weight loss in terms of these benefits as well as controlling compulsive behavior when you think of the Big Picture “Why”
 reason for the goal.

On the other hand, if you have a goal that involves complex details or many different steps, it works better to think in terms of a “What” explanation. For example, if you are trying to learn a new skill such as a new language think about what you will need to do:

• Study vocabulary for 15 minutes per day
• Create flash cards for new words
• Use audio to check on pronunciation

Experiment with “Why” and “What” goals and share your experience below.

More next week,

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