Think Small

Think Small gives the science-backed secrets to following through with your goals, identifying seven key components that will help you use your own human nature to your advantage for wild success like you’ve never had before.

You’ve set goals in the past and made the mistake of thinking you’ll be happy once you accomplish them. But chances are good that it was actually the wrong goal in the first place and that it wouldn’t actually make you happier.

If we set our sights on material possessions, like a house or a nice car, we’re always going to end up less happy than if we set more meaningful goals. Research indicates that you’re going to be happier when you focus on experiences.

Here are the top five factors that make the most difference in our well-being, and which you should focus your goals around if you want to be happy:

Curiosity Learning Generosity Activity Relationships

An analysis of people that got an extra $5,000 bonus is a good example of this in action. The data showed that whenever these people used the money on gifts or charitable contributions, they were happier than the group that only spent it on themselves.

It’s not just enough to set the right goals, however. You need to make sure that you can achieve it. The best way to do this is to set just one goal. You can set up a small number of categories to set a single goal in each, but limit it as much as possible.

Once you have your aim in mind, identify specific outcomes you want to achieve with concrete deadlines. “I want to lose 10 pounds by June 25” is much better than “I want to eat healthier,” for example.

The best way to make a problem easier is to share the load with others. This is applicable in all aspects of life, especially in goal-setting. But you probably have a hard time asking for help. However, the truth is, most people are a lot more willing to give help than you might initially believe. One study asked people how likely they thought it was that a stranger would lend their phone out to someone who needed it. While the participants predicted only 30%, the actual number is 50%! It’s part of human nature to want to help others. Looking at the numbers above at how often strangers will help you, how much more likely are your friends and family to lend assistance? When you add another person to your workout, diet plan, or any other goal you set, you significantly increase your chances for success. A study had one group workout with a partner and another without. The…