Success in any sport, according to University of Washington Sports Psychologist Frank Smoll, Ph.D., depends on skill and motivation. To be motivated means to be driven to achieve particular goals. It starts with long-term goals, which is described on the MindTools website as the “big picture” of what you want to achieve.
Having long-term goals isn’t enough as these may seem unreachable. To bring these long-term goals to fruition, they need to be broken down into short-term goals. An article published on Deakin University’s this. online publication says properly formulated short-term goals give you “a step-by-step system that paves a path towards a long-term goal.” Further, short-term goals also help prevent procrastination as these allow you to “focus on one thing at a time.”
Goals increase motivation, determination, and self-confidence, as stated on BBC Bitesize study resource. When surfer Joe Weghofer suffered a severe back injury after a 20-ft. Fall, he thought he would never be able to walk again. But he was able to stand a month after the accident, and he was able to walk another month after that. Years later, he was back to surfing, defying the odds and his doctors’ prognosis. The secret to his recovery and success was his strong sense of purpose. His foundation was his purpose, defined by his long-term goals and broken down into achievable short-term goals.
