A Child Abuse Survivors Group Community Group

We survived child abuse, but the pain still remains and so do the other effects which can last a lifetime. We are often unable to find adequate help, and we are seeking answers that can help us understand what happened so that we can go on to lead normal lives. (Please note that this is a group for child abuse survivors only. If you are a professional in the mental health...

146 Members

575 Posts

1 Online

Beaumont 03/21/2012

Why is goal setting important? There is a joke that supposedly only 3% of adults have written goals - and guess what - everyone else works for them! So basically, if you want to be successful, a personal development plan that incorporates goal setting is vital. How else can you hope to achieve your definition of success?

The reason goal setting works so well is because it helps you develop motivation and forces you to focus your time and energy. This helps inform what decisions you make in every waking moment. When you lack goals, it's difficult to avoid just drifting through life as your day-to-day decisions have no larger purpose.

Once you create a personal plan with your key goals you will find your life has more meaning and purpose. Often enough, it isn't even obtaining a goal that becomes exhilarating, rather it's taking the journey and achieving the small milestones along the way.

Do you have goals? Have you put them in writing? What suggestions would you give to someone about achieving his or her goals?

Beaumont 03/21/2012

I have posted this topic because even with everything that has happened to us, we still need to pursue success and happiness in life, and setting goals can help us in that.

Beaumont 03/21/2012

One of my goals is to find a purpose in life. Anybody else have this challenge, too?

chris1976 03/21/2012

I do have goals. I write them. I follow up on them, maybe too much since I have OCD. What I have found in my experience is that sometimes goals should include things like: (a) have fun (b) have a plan be or support if I fail to reach them (c) not to stress myself or over focus on them or obsess about meeting them (d) stuff happens even when goals are set (e) I can change my mind if I realize that I cannot or don't want to reach a goal that I though was a good one (f) I still have the same issues and traumas; it's still me only with goals.

I have fallen into the trap that setting a plan will solve all my problems. it does give me a sense of accomplishment, but it's not the solution to all my issues, and they should be enjoyable. the purpose of reaching my goals is to celebrate and bring success to my life, not stress over it or feel worse if I don't reach the goal.

deleted_user 03/22/2012

I used to do a lot of goal setting, but I found that once I did, reaching my goals was easy, and then when I was there, where do I go? I didn't find solutions when I reached my goals, and once I had I would get depressed because then I had no purpose. Course, I have no goals now, and I'm struggling to find purpose.
Maybe I just set the wrong goals! And I know I often set goals which would please others, so they often weren't my goals at all. Sigh.

MrEthereal 03/22/2012

Good topic. I'm 45, and recently began setting goals. It's really working I am happy to report. I've completed all of my goals thus far and intend to spend the rest of my days setting and completing more of them.

I get a sense of accomplishment and pride in myself when I set and complete goals.

Beaumont 03/28/2012

Thank you to everyone who replied to this topic. Because this is such an important topic, I will have to gather more information about it for later postings.

Join the Conversation