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Aspirations and Goals for Everyone
What Are Aspirations and How Do They Differ from Goals?
Do you have hopes and dreams? Do you have an ambition to achieve a life goal in the future? You have aspirations. These big picture life goals give us a sense of purpose and direction as we live out each day. Don’t be mistaken. Having aspirations and goals are not the same thing.
Goals are action steps to get you to a final destination, while aspirations tend to be more general and long-term future focused. Think of it this way, when you want to look back on your career and know you met all your goals, that is an aspiration. Obtaining a new position within six months is a goal. They work together, but they have separate functions.
My Early Aspirations
When I was a child, my aspirations included dreams of becoming a veterinarian. I imagined myself healing animals, giving them comfort, and making the world safer for every creature I loved. But the truth revealed itself early: while my heart was big enough for all the animals, it was too tender to withstand their suffering.
I remember the first time I tried to nurse a sick parrot back to health. I sat by its cage for hours, whispering encouragement, offering food and water, willing it to get better. When it didn’t, I felt crushed — and I realized that the daily reality of…
