The Power of Words

Everyone has a set of goals they wish to fulfill, whether long-term or short-term. Setting goals correctly can make one feel accomplished, confident and unstoppable. Finding the motivation to actually complete these goals isn’t always easy. However, locating one’s own personal motivation is essential in completing goals and seeking success.

The Importance of Writing Goals Down

Writing down goals on a piece of paper may seem rather simple, but studies have shown that it’s quite effective. The Science Daily website has researched the effects of those seeking to lose weight in regards to food journals. Dr. Jack Hollis, the lead researcher on the study, stated that those who kept track of their eating habits by writing them down daily lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t record their meals. Having the potential to double weight loss results by simply writing down goals is so easy, there’s no reason not to give it a try. Clearly, combining goals one has in their head with the physical act of writing them down can be extremely successful.

Dominican University Study

Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University of California was eager to see the results of writing goals down. Dr. Matthews’ study consisted of five different groups of people of various ages. The first group was told to think of a “business-related” goal and to rate the goal based on a few different factors. The second group was instructed to write down their goals and rate them, just like the first group. The third group wrote down their goal and “action commitments” for each goal. The fourth group had to write down goals, action commitments and then share their goal with a friend. Finally, the fifth group had to do everything all the other groups had, than had to send progress reports to a friend. Dr. Matthews’ results proved what most had been suspecting, the fifth group achieved the most success.

“At the end of the study, the individuals in Group 1 only accomplished 43 percent of their stated goals. Those in Group 4 accomplished 64 percent of their stated goals, while those in Group 5 were the most successful, with an average 76 percent of their goals accomplished”. Obviously, writing goals down is advantageous.

Writing down goals is undoubtedly the most effective way to truly accomplish personal desires and aspirations. A positive attitude combined with a tangible piece of paper that has a goal written on it is indisputably the best way to complete a goal. Written goals provide an incessant reminder and the motivation needed to fulfill goals. Expressing yourself through written words can help one lose weight, get their emotions out if experiencing a disease like mesothelioma cancer, be a helpful reminder at the grocery store or if you just want to record some of one’s fondest memories. Ultimately, motivation, written words and a good outlook can conquer any goal, no matter how challenging a prognosis is.

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