The Goal-Purpose Connection

I just heard something from David Neagle, an extremely gifted life and success coach (www.DavidNeagle.com), that really gave me pause to think. “Your goals give direction to your purpose”. I never had looked at a goal in that manner and in fact, this statement totally turned my understanding of what a goal is upside down. We are so focused on setting and reaching goals but are we missing the mark? The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. I had always viewed goals in the short-term and self-contained within the project or whatever I was working on but now see goals are much bigger than that! Goals are in actuality the vehicle we use to fulfill our life’s purpose. Rather than focusing on setting the goals first, should we not first focus on our purpose and the form our goals around that? Something to think about.

What I’m coming to understand now is that goals actually are the stepping stones of life. When we set a goal, it gives us a sense of direction and purpose. But without a context to frame our goals, we often get off track and feel like we’re just going through the motions. Our goals should ignite a passion deep within us and not just be another task on our "to do" list. When we view our goals in the bigger context of our life’s purpose, we then realize that as each goal is set and achieved, we are closer to fulfilling our ultimate destiny.

Just as a rudder guides and directs a ship through the vastness of the sea, our goals guide and direct us through the vastness of our life. Understanding this concept has helped me tremendously to put my goals in perspective. Now, before setting any goal, I ask myself, “Does this align with my values and bring me closer to God’s purpose for my life”. If the answer is yes, I can be sure it will lead me to the next level and closer to fulfilling the ultimate destiny God has planned for me.