Here it is: live a long, happy, healthy life.
All of my other goals are actually sub-goals in the service of this one over-arching goal.
I have goals for exercise, diet, freelance writing income, information products income, learning, time with my partner Stephanie and my friends and family, and time spent hiking and traveling and just enjoying the natural world.
But that one goal is what guides everything else.
How This Goal Guides My Decision-Making
For every significant decision I ask myself these two questions:
1. Will this make me happy? (And I’m talking real happiness, not a short-term this-candy-bar-will-taste-good-while-I-eat-it happiness.)
2. Will this increase my health? (Better health and increased happiness are both tied to longevity.)
If the answer is no to either question, I’ll usually decide not to do it.
Of course, sometimes life demands that we do something that doesn’t make us happy in the short-term, or we’ll need to do something that isn’t so healthy for us in the short-term, but overall this goal and my two decision-making rules have served me very well.
Your Take
What’s your main goal? How do you make decisions? Share with us!
Gene Burnett says
April 10, 2013 at 3:41 AMI would say my main goal is to embody unforced balance. It’s something I strive for in my T’ai-Chi practice, my musical performing and writing, as well as in my teaching and relationships. For me it’s more of a physical feeling that I’m following than a constant criterion for decision making, but sometimes yes, I will ask myself if a given course of action will support my pursuit and experience of unforced balance. Most of the time I do what feels most deeply right.
John Soares says
April 10, 2013 at 8:31 AM“…embody unforced balance.” I like it Gene, and it’s also something I seek.
Kat says
April 10, 2013 at 4:42 AMLove this article.It’s so easy to drift away from our goals and this is a great reminder.
My goal is to leave the world in a better state than it was when I entered it. And that doesn’t have to mean a massive impact. Instead, I focus on using my writing to benefit others and the community. I focus on being a good friend, a great partner and an ethical business owner.
John Soares says
April 10, 2013 at 8:33 AMVery good goal Kat!
It’s similar to what Bill Clinton told Steven Colbert recently at the Clinton Global Initiative.
Kat says
April 14, 2013 at 4:52 PMI’ll have to look that up!
Jake Poinier says
April 10, 2013 at 6:48 AMSimply and elegantly put, John. Reminds me of one of my favorite Tom Robbins quotes, from Still Life With Woodpecker: “There are two mantras, Yum and Yuck. Mine is Yum.”
John Soares says
April 10, 2013 at 8:27 AMYum! Has the same “mmmm” sound as Om.
Thanks for sharing that quote Jake!
Cathy Miller says
April 10, 2013 at 7:45 AMI so love, John, that you get what’s important. I’ve shared this goal before here (in the form of my motivating question) – how do I keep it simple?
And is there nothing simpler (and complex) 😉 than happiness?
John Soares says
April 10, 2013 at 8:29 AMCathy, “keeping it simple” is also a key message of your post “Has Technology Made Us Stupid or Just Lazy?” (Highly recommended)
Note that this blog post is short and simple!
Cathy Miller says
April 10, 2013 at 8:38 AMJust like I like it, John. 😉
Cathy Miller says
April 10, 2013 at 8:39 AMOops-forgot to thank you for the post recommendation.
Steeny Lou says
April 10, 2013 at 7:48 AMMy main goal in life in six words:
Love. Everything else is just icing.
John Soares says
April 10, 2013 at 8:26 AMGreat goal Steeny!
Tom Bentley says
April 10, 2013 at 9:17 AMJohn, I have to give myself a resounding “Duh!” on this one: I’ve never asked myself that simple-yet-profound question. Now I will. (Of course, I may steal your answer, because it’s damn good.)
John Soares says
April 10, 2013 at 10:34 AMFeel free to steal it Tom!
Edna says
April 10, 2013 at 12:26 PMthanks.
sort of puts everything else into perspective doesn’t it?
Anne Wayman says
April 11, 2013 at 2:20 PMActually, John, years ago I came up with “be of service & have fun.” That’s 6 words too… and that statement has informed much of my life since… I lose track of it from time-to-time, but always come back to just that. Sometimes I’ll add health or profit or… whatever, but those 6 are the core it turns out.
John Soares says
April 13, 2013 at 8:18 AMExcellent goal Anne! I think it’s very common for us to drift away from our key goals. The important thing is to get back to them.
Lori says
April 16, 2013 at 7:40 AMHow can we not follow this advice, John? It’s great.
I ask myself: Is this why I became a freelancer? If the answer is ever no, I won’t do it.
Rob says
May 15, 2013 at 11:56 PMHey John,
Great questions to ask yourself. Often, we don’t question why it is that we do what we do.
And, even expect different outcomes.
Great 6 words.
John Soares says
May 16, 2013 at 6:19 AMThanks Rob. Asking and answering good questions have really helped me be happier and more focused.
Laura says
January 7, 2014 at 6:04 AMI guess I needed to read this article. It’s now that I realise that I was settling for so little happiness with the bad decisions that I was taking. Your two questions really opened my eyes. Thank you!
constance says
August 22, 2014 at 2:45 AMwould be to finish that book, ive been putting it aside for too long
Armando Corbo says
December 19, 2015 at 12:50 AMGreat article. My goal also revolves around continuous learning and growth, financial stability and healthy lifestyle. These goals also lead ultimately to personal contentment and happiness and to be of service to others in some way.