There are great stories out there about the power of goal setting. Every Coach is familiar with successful people who put their achievements down to goal setting. These stories are great, although they aren’t good science. Just because two things have happened (a goal has been set and a goal has been achieved) doesn’t mean that there is a causal relationship.

Goal setting works on many levels and actually understanding these levels puts you in the position to be flexible in achieving your goals. Without understanding what is really happening you risk goals not being achieved and not knowing how to adapt and get back on track.

One of the ways goal setting works is to strengthen neurological connections in the brain. The power of the imagination is huge. The brain strengthens circuits when we think about things, just as it does when we do things. So if you think about getting out of bed in the morning and going for a run, you are making it easier for your brain (and therefore your body) to get up the next morning.

Anyone know of any studies that compare simply writing a goal down and putting it in a draw for a year vs thinking about that goal on a weekly basis?