What is the Difference Between Values and Goals?
What is a Value?
What is a Goal?
Values are things that are important to you in your life. They can never be fully achieved but are things that you are always striving toward. Values reflect what really matters to you in your life. Some values might be permanent and other values might change as you change.
Think of your values as your why.
A goal is an objective or target that you are trying to meet. A goal always has endpoints. It is important to set goals that are related to your values. This helps match your behaviors to your values, and can help increase motivation to keep going when a goal feels challenging.
This of your goals as the what.
Moving Toward a Values-Based Life
Pain can make it hard to live your life in the direction of your values. For example, you might value getting a good education or getting good grades, but pain makes it hard to go to school or complete your assignments.
In the Values Clarification and Goals Setting modules of this program, you are going to be figuring out what you value in life. Examples of values include friends, family, school, hobbies, spirituality, or community. Understanding what you value, and the specifics of that value, will help you set achievable goals that will move you toward a values-based life. Moving toward your values by reaching achievable goals will help you gain control over your pain and stop pain from getting in your way.
Setting Values-Based S.M.A.R.T. Goals
When setting goals, remember the acronym S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.
Using this acronym to guide you in setting goals will help you develop goals you will be successful in achieving, supporting you on your journey to living a life in line with all that you value.
That’s all for today! See you tomorrow