What is a state versus a goal?

Did you know that there is a difference between a state and a goal? Often people will say they have a goal to be happy when… However, being happy is possible right now. You do not need to wait for happiness, there is no need to wait for the ducks to line up on the wall, the children to leave home or retire from work. Happiness is obtainable right now. All you need to do is to remember a specific time in your life when you were totally happy, remember what was being said to you, recall the feelings and the sounds and sights that were heard and seen. Happiness is not a goal it is a state or value that you can have now.

A value or state is stated ambiguously, written as affirmations, you can have it right now, and no steps need to be taken to receive it. Instead a goal (outcome) must be stated specifically, must be written as goals, time is involved to achieve them, steps are needed to complete them (e.g. determine the outcome and then work backwards) and goals are measurable and stated for self only.

Next time you would like to achieve something, determine whether it’s a state or a goal. If it’s a state then you can have it right now. If it is a goal then you must determine the outcome, work out the steps involved and measure them accordingly.