What causes a person to be cheerful, upbeat, positive and enthusiastic when it may seem to us that have no reason to be that way?

Probably because they have a goal—a star to shoot for.

Have you noticed yourself turning into a robot? You get up, go to work, come home, watch some tv, maybe read some blogs, go to bed, then do it again the next day. You’re moving through your life taking things as they happen, one day at a time, kind of like a hamster running in its wheel.

If that describes you, I’d bet that you can’t answer this simple question: “What do you want to do, to have, or to be in the next 5 years?”

The Power of Goals

Having a goal out there somewhere, something to move toward, is one of the secrets of happiness. When life seems the roughest, when you awake to a gray, cloudy, bleak morning, having a goal to strive for will help you to break through the blues and give you a reason to say to yourself, “Stay with it! Keep going!” It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, your ray of sunshine, your reason to keep slogging through the mud until you hit dry ground.

That’s why we should revisit our goals on a regular basis, why we need to be certain and clear what we’re moving toward, what we’re shooting for.

If you find yourself feeling depressed or lethargic, take a look at your goals. If you don’t have any, get some. A goal you can be excited about can save you.