You may find it difficult to plan for the future, but this does not mean that you are not motivated or driven to achieve. It could be that you are trying to establish who you are, and part of this will include developing an understanding of your own interests, values and aspirations. Your aspirations may also tend to be more short term rather than having a longer term focus, so you may find that you are thinking about passing a test in the next few days, buying the latest cell phone, or planning for the next social event with friends, as opposed to making decisions about future choices likes a career or a savings plan.
You could also be confused by the various options available to you or because you are interested in subjects, careers, or jobs that may be in conflict in some way with other people's expectations of you. These expectations could be real or perceived and may be from family, friends, teachers, etc.
Try and think about both the shorter term and longer term outcomes you would like to achieve when setting goals. Having short term plans will help you stay focused on what you are trying to achieve, feel as though you are being rewarded along the way for any hard work or self-discipline you are maintaining, and re-evaluate or adjust the longer term plans if your efforts look like they are surpassing the overall goal. It is important to remember that these longer term goals may not seem so real because they just seem so far away, but they are certainly important.
Having some flexibility to the plan can also mean that you stay motivated rather than get discouraged by any challenges or setbacks along the way. It is also important to set goals that are both realistic and achievable. Remember, there is nothing wrong with setting high standards and having dreams, as long as you can build a pathway that bridges the gap between ideas and outcomes.
Contributed by:
Natalie Kleindyk, Graduate Diploma of Science (Psychology), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), ACAP Educator. Australia College of Applied Psychology www.acap.edu.au
Your GoStudy Team
