New Year, New You: Setting Goals
Amber SandallIt seemed apropos to write about goal setting as we enter 2020. The end of a decade! For me, it signifies the end of my twenties and entering my thirties with a renewed sense of self, purpose, and grace—to give myself both the confidence in my abilities and the courage to fail. And there’s something about a good goal that really helps focus your behavior over a period of time—both consciously and unconsciously. In fact, studies on behavioral priming, (which is defined as “the incidental activation of knowledge structures … by the current situational context”), indicate that attitudes and other affective reactions can be triggered automatically by the mere presence of relevant objects and events (Bargh, Chen, Burrows, 1996). So set those goals and keep your list handy where you can see them throughout the year, allowing them to seep into your day-to-day decision making. But on to the main act—how do you set goals anyway?