Unlike with short-term finite goals, the unconscious will continue to positively value objects related to the long-term goals, even after a level of success has been achieved.
A study by assistant marketing professor finds people are more satisfied if they set ambitious goals, as opposed to conservative goals.
One of the biggest challenges in meeting any goal, whether it be related to productivity, waking early, changing a habit, exercising, or just becoming happier, is finding the motivation to stick with it.
Whether you are swimming in the Olympics or saving for a vacation, being able to see progress toward your goal will help you reach it.
People have an easier time starting toward a goal than finishing it, but a shift in attention can make all the difference in reaching the finish line.
Do you look fondly at the past, enjoy yourself in the present, and strive for future goals? If you hold these time perspectives simultaneously - and don't go overboard on any one of them - you're likely to be a happy person.
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.”
If it feels like one part of your brain is battling another, it probably is, according to a study published in Science.
First, you must decide exactly what it is you want to accomplish. And secondly, you must determine what price you'll have to pay to get it, and then resolve to pay that price.
When asked during an interview how he managed to reach the top as a professional bodybuilder and Hollywood actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger replied with a single word: "Drive!"
Pride in success can prevent us from taking further action toward our goals. We should not allow our brains to convince us that a failure is a success just so that we can stop trying.
We have all had them as we set and go after our goals, no matter where we are or what our goals may be: naysayers, detractors, people who poke fun or get angry, or who simply tell us we can’t do it.
If you think having loads of money, fetching looks, or the admiration of many will improve your life -- think again.
Research suggests that it is pro athlete's ability to manage his goals, as well as his skill, determination and motivation that makes him successful.
Even the most motivated of us can feel unmotivated at times. In fact, sometimes we get into such a slump that even thinking about making positive changes seems too difficult.
But when a task is presented as fun, researchers report in a new study, the same individuals often do worse than those who are less motivated to achieve.
When we're waiting in line or sitting in a boring meeting, time seems to slow down to a trickle. And when we get caught up in something completely engrossing - a gripping thriller, for example - we may lose sense of time altogether.
What truly inspires individuals to perform at their very best?
When the St Louis Cardinals lost the World Series, just how much shame did the players feel?
I'm often asked how you can start doing work you love - how you can make a living doing something you’re passionate about.
You might think that a loving partner helps keep you on track -- say, when you want to stick to your jogging or concentrate on your studies.
I've been stuck in a job I hate, and I felt imprisoned, trapped doing work that bored me while following orders of others and helping them achieve their goals.
Worried you won't meet your goal? According to research, you'll be more likely to succeed if you make specific plans to implement it.
People who work hard at improving a skill or ability may experience stress in the moment, but experience greater happiness on a daily basis and longer term. Here's why.
Whether it's sports, poker or the high-stakes world of business, there are those who always find a way to win when there's money on the table.
A survey by the Pew Foundation which found that 71 percent of Americans view small business more favorably than any other institutions, including religious organizations.
Too often we get stuck in inaction -- the quagmire of doubt and perfectionism and distractions and planning that stops us from moving forward.
It's hard to keep yourself going when you don’t feel the same excitement as you did in the beginning.
In the not-too-distant past, young people aspired to become lawyers and doctors. Now they yearn to achieve the celebrity of a Mark Zuckerberg or Oprah Winfrey -- and these goals extend to adults as well.
Everyone is essentially self-employed -- and that even if you're an employee, you should think of yourself as the President of your own personal services corporation.