Goal Setting and Self-Efficacy
Photo by Alexander Milo on Unsplash
As Henry Ford once said: “Whether you can or you can’t, you’re right”. If you believe you can reach your goals, you will and if you don’t, you may find it more challenging to reach those goals.
In psychology, this is called self-efficacy, the belief in your own ability to succeed, and it is so important to success. It is so important that we learn to believe in our ability, or it makes achieving a goal quite difficult.
What is self-efficacy?
Self-efficacy is the belief we have in our own abilities to complete a certain task successfully. Self-efficacy is often confused with self-image, self-esteem, and self-worth but they are different constructs. Self-efficacy is focused on the things that you want and need to do in life.
Examples of self-efficacy:
A student that might not be receiving the highest possible grades but still believes in their ability to achieve and pass the course
An expectant parents whilst they know parenting is going to be a challenge, they believe that they are going to do well no matter how daunting the task of parenting might seem to them
Discussion: If you feel comfortable sharing, what goals have you set lately? And what is something positive that you can tell yourself to nurture your self-efficacy? 🌻
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS
I have not been able to set any goals in the last 4 years. I simply don't know what i want or i don't want anything, not sure which.
@Gettingbettertoday
I am sorry to hear you've felt this way as I know that must be so difficult to experience. Sometimes we think we are not making any progress towards our goals but we actually are! Often, we just need a bit more self-compassion and we find that we are able to make a few steps forward.
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS this is a very general goal, but I feel I am able to live a full life despite the challenges I face. It is a feeling of somehow I will get through things.
@soulsings
This is very motivating Soulsings and it is your intuition that you can and will get through certain challenges that you may face in life. This is a great way of looking at challenges in life!
It helped me focus, i guess. I have been setting goals using the dayzeroproject. It was hard to stand up and go out, and i still dont do everything, but there's progress.
@quickwitted0
That is great progress!! How do you feel it has helped you make progress?
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS
Discussion: If you feel comfortable sharing, what goals have you set lately? And what is something positive that you can tell yourself to nurture your self-efficacy? 🌻
I set goals for myself regularly. A lot of them I never get to reach because I get sidetracked with something else, or life gets in the way. As far as my self-efficacy, I have no problem talking my self up. In all my life, I don't think I've ever thought I couldn't accomplish something that I knew was within my abilities. Most times I don't reach a goal is because of interference outside of my control. With that said, I am in a position right now to take on a challenge that could, in no certain terms, make me shine or break me at my place of employment. While I know I can do what needs to be done to accomplish the mission, based on what I've seen from others who have held this same position, I'm not sure if I want to take it because of the outside interference that is beyond my control that can cause me to fail And this is not about fear of failing, but fear of the consequence that comes with that failure due to events or actions beyond my control I think the key to self-efficacy is to know yourself, your abilities and have the presence of mind to think through the goals rewards and consequences prior to setting it or accepting.
@CyclingThroughLife
Very wise words and it is so important to know our own abilities and ensure that goal-setting is realistic whilst also weighing up the consequences too.
Thank you so much for this much-needed post!
I strongly believe that realistic plans and expectations help us reach our goals more smoothly. Recently, I have been struggling with being consistent. For instance, for hitting the gym, and completing my weekly tasks as there are too many things to tackle at the same time.
What would you do if you were at my place?
Much love,
-Angel 💙💜
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS
@lyricalAngel70
Great question Angel! So true we definitely need to be realistic! Some people find it helpful to break tasks down into items that you need to prioritise first with your weekly to-do lists and then to schedule time in your calendar to be able to go to the gym and work on your health. We often leave our own self-care last on the list but if possible, it should be prioritised quite highly on your list as you need to take care of yourself to be able to complete your weekly to-do lists.
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS “If you believe you can reach your goals, you will and if you don’t, you are likely not to reach them.”
There is a strange bias to this psychology, or I should say, how it is applied sometimes. Especially when people talk about “success” and “manifesting”, the idea is that mustering belief should be the primary task and if you believe enough then you will succeed. Belief does not guarantee success. Before many of my college exams I had the belief that I would do poorly. Turned out I did better on most of my exams than I thought I would. So, if belief were the secret ingredient I should have done poorly on most of those exams. Of course I had some hope along the way that enough attention and study would get me through, otherwise I would have probably not tried at all.
Are goals reasonable? Do you have the resources accomplish those goals. If you start from there, “belief” probably is kind of baked in to your starting on a road to your goals and maybe succeeding. From a purely academic standpoint perhaps learning the degree to which belief plays a part in reaching one’s goals is interesting, but from the perspective of pop/self help psychology I think belief is oversold as the vehicle to success. Instead it might be the fuel, but you also usually need an engine, tires, a steering wheel and a driver. If your car is parked on a hill, with a push you can get closer to your goal without fuel or even a working engine. Don’t be oversold on the importance of the fuel or even the car. People have traveled a long way on foot and they didn’t have to believe anything.
@hopefulPond6108
Yes that is very true there are so many elements to succeeding and reaching our goals and certainly, we sometimes need more than just the belief that we are going to achieve. By being positive we are often able to set ourselves up to succeed rather than believing we cannot succeed which may end up holding us back.
Lately, I have not set goals as I personally feel that when I do, every obstacle tends to Stand in my way of successfully completing a set goal. Something positive to tell myself - keep trying as it's bound to be accomplished, whether it's now or days/weeks/months/years down the road.
@RaeOSunshine89
I hope soon that you feel you're able to set goals that work for you! That is a great message that you are telling yourself and it is great that you are able to tell yourself that you will reach those goals at some point too.
My goal is to grow my business. It is still a baby, let than a month old. I can tell myself you can do it and it will be a success. You will make sure it is. Just find out why you need to do it. Is it to please others or to make yourself happy? Also, how do I do things as unto the Lord? I have no idea..
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS
This is a great post Lisa, thanks!
Discussion: If you feel comfortable sharing, what goals have you set lately? And what is something positive that you can tell yourself to nurture your self-efficacy?
My goals are to offer the best support I can here and to learn as much as possible about mental health as well as new ways to do better gardening and of course to enjoy my free time in my garden too.
To nurture my self-efficacy I tell myself "I can accomplish many things with the right mind set"
@amiablePeace77
I love this Ami! You are doing a great job at helping others who reach out to you. Your garden sounds beautiful and a place that is flourishing!
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS
Thank you for you kind words Lisa and also for the support you give everyone here.
Hi is there and accountability group where I can share what I have achieved throughout the day? I lack motivation.
@hearttoheartnojudgement the Sharing Circle is a place that people go to share their story. Go to this link https://www.7cups.com/chat/?tab=pm and click on Groups and scroll down to Sharing Circle and click on it.
Another supportive environment with guided discussions, not accountability, but supportive are the discussions here in EDT time https://www.7cups.com/forum/50plus/QAsDiscussionsResources_1770/50plusDiscussionsandTopicsMayJune2023_207920/
If you were interested in a 7 Cups Online therapist (a paid option) then you could write to your therapist every day. https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/TheLatestonTherapySubcom_2349/WhatHappensDuring7CupsOnlineTherapy_296347/
