For a person to miss out on the staggering advantages of setting goals, there must be a psychological block somewhere. The block is the subconscious realization that every goal has an associated price tag – that it doesn't come free.
It does not 'flow freely from the wondrous bounty of the universe.' There is a price to pay in order to achieve each goal. This knowledge evokes fear which triggers inertia and this stops you from taking this important first step.
Of course most people realize this subconsciously, but after some research, I think that I have isolated the main reason why people do not set goals.
It is not ignorance. Everybody now knows the importance of setting goals. Thirty years ago, this was a startling new idea. No longer. Goal setting is a powerful and proven tool for success in any field of endeavor. Everybody knows this, but still they do not do it.
Why?
It can not be the difficulty of the task. Writing out ten goals is not a particularly arduous job – in fact it is quite enjoyable and only takes about twenty minutes. And yet 98% of people never write a goal in their entire lives, even though the task of writing out your goals is so easy and the rewards so obvious.
It is not even the difficulty of pondering what it is you ultimately want out of life – just ease yourself in with some simple goals, say to move up to the next biggest house and to earn an extra ten thousand dollars this year. Leave complex life-goals ('Who am I? What is it all about? Why am I here?') until you are happier with the whole goal-setting process.
No, there must be something else, and I think I have identified it.
To set yourself a goal means to set yourself up for change. Any goal that you can think of, large or small, basically reduces to the statement: 'I hereby promise to change in the following way…' We all fear change – it is the unknown. Fear stops us dead in our tracks.
Above everything else, a goal is a written contract with yourself to do something. To achieve even the smallest goal requires discipline, work, and focus; all three in some measure.
How do you think people react when faced with a contract containing the words 'discipline,' 'work' and 'focus'? Why, they break out into a cold sweat. Their hands tremble and seem unable to grasp the pen. They go to sign, then draw back, then go to sign again. Suddenly, they feel faint. The pen slips from their numbed hand and clatters to the floor. They will sign that contract one day real soon now – perhaps tomorrow…
I believe this is why people do not set goals.
