There is a big difference between a wish and a real goal, and that difference is often just one thing: a plan.
Dreams and desires ignite the initial burst of motivation, but it is a plan that keeps the flame alive until we become successful.
At their deepest level, they are both driven by a desire to achieve a future state or result. But after that, they diverge more than they resemble one another. A wish is typically a vaguely positive utterance about a desired state in the future. It is an expression of wanting that doesn’t include action steps. A goal, on the other hand, is a well-defined, measurable, and time-bound aspiration built upon a plan, a series of steps that will lead to achievement.
A plan draws upon the present and puts the far end of the tunnel (which might be years ahead) within reach. A plan parcellates the abstract goal into bite-size tasks and milestones, making them all concrete elsewhere. When done well, a plan can create the psychological space for a goal we feel positive about. When done poorly, or not at all, the other end of the tunnel can turn into an intangible blur. How can I succeed when I don’t even know where I’m going? A future that’s amorphous, unclear, and unbreakable down into steps is one that can be too easily put off and then forgotten.
Components of an Effective Plan
Specificity: Get crystal clear on what your intention is. If your goal is something like ‘get healthy’ or ‘be successful’, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Such vague goals can’t be pinned down, so they can’t possibly lead to an achievable plan. Instead, precisely spell out what success looks like — for example, ‘lose 20 pounds in six months,’ or ‘become a manager within a year’.
Stepping stones: Make the goal manageable by recognizing all the smaller steps needed to make it work, and start on those. You can track steps to see how things are developing and find ways to tweak what you put into place. For example, when your goal is to write a book, stepping stones might include milestones such as ‘write 500 words per day’, or ‘write one chapter every month’.
Attainable Actions: Each step in your plan has to be realistic, feasible, and attainable; not only do you have to identify what needs to be done, but also if you have the means to accomplish it. A wishful plan will get you nowhere.
Relevant Tasks: The more your task moves you closer to your goal, the better. Be*/Do*/See*/Feel*/Hear*/Remember*/Imagine*/Contemplate*.
Time-bound Deadlines: Set deadlines for each element or else the task may never get done at all.
The Psychological Impact of Planning
Planning not only gives you the blueprint for action. Keep in mind that resilience is called self-efficacy, which means the sense that you can do it, the belief that you have the resources within you to realize your goals, and having it in place makes the goals easier to achieve. Break the goal into segments, deal with digestible steps, and after having implemented those smaller goals once, you know you can do it again, and that gives rise to a sense that the goal is easier to accomplish.
Furthermore, the graded structure helps alleviate anxiety and uncertainty, as we know that our goals have a clear path that we can follow. The certainty that we are on track cuts anxiety, dispelling the fear of the unknown while maintaining focus in the face of distractions and setbacks.
Turning Wishes into Goals
The first step toward turning a wish into a goal is to make that wish more specific: change ‘I wish I could learn a new language’ to ‘I will be fluent in Spanish in two years.’ Then draft a detailed plan: sign up for a language class, spend 30 minutes every day studying, and check your progress quarterly.
Overcoming Common Obstacles
Even with a plan, several obstacles can derail your progress. Common pitfalls include:
Dropping the ball: Checking in with your plan regularly and making changes as you need.
Procrastination: Break the task into smaller steps and set daily deadlines.
Overwhelm: don’t become overwhelmed with other incoming data by prioritizing tasks and sticking with the data to be processed.
Stiffness: Be adaptable. If what you are doing is not working out, go back to your plan and adjust your course to get back on track without losing sight of your primary goal.
Goals on their own are akin to wishes: unless you put them on a plan, they’ll stay in a state of suspended animation in the Elysian Fields of what-ifs. By writing your plan, you transform your dreams into goals. And you bring those goals a bit closer, too, along with a tougher, more resilient type of inner strength. If dreams provide the vision, it’s a plan that gives it form.