“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how, " said the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Two centuries have passed since Nieztche uttered this truth. It is only today that studies conducted by psychologists and medical scientists have come to discover that setting specific goals in life and pursuing them makes people happier and they live longer.

Your goal drives your life  

Your life gains momentum when you start pursuing goals. From several long-term studies, scientists concluded that those who live with a goal in mind get to live longer. They sleep better, stay free from the risk of stroke and depression, overcome addictions faster, and have a better lead in keeping blood sugar under control. Goal-oriented people do comparatively better in other physiological factors as well. 

Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl pioneered the study of how goals influence the course of life and initiate positive changes in body and mind. He was a legendary neurosurgeon who survived the Holocaust during World War II. During his days in the Nazi concentration camps, Viktor observed other fellow prisoners. He saw that those who had lost their sense of life in endless torture and suffering saw no hope ahead, could find no purpose to live, became exhausted faster, and at one point lost their life altogether. He later wrote extensively on these issues, and after World War II devoted himself to research on the 'effect of goals in life'.

Goals gain you a sound health 

The positive impact of goals on health is noticeable regardless of age, occupation, or social status. A 10-year follow-up study has shown that goal-oriented people are more committed to following healthy lifestyles such as regular exercise and healthy eating habits, and abstaining from vices such as drug addiction. In addition, they are better able to overcome sleep-related complications and celebrate other natural pleasures of life.

Two separate studies conducted on 16,000 middle-aged Americans and British citizens found that goal-oriented people had lower rates of death from disease and other causes. Among them, the risk of heart disease is reduced by 27 percent, stroke by 22 percent, and the risk of Alzheimer's disease, an age-related dementia, is halved.

Another remarkable positive impact of goal consciousness is integrating the body's nervous system. It keeps the amount of adrenaline released in the body and the heart rate and breathing under control in any situation and danger. Thus it results in reduced risk of stress-related illnesses.

Goals make you richer!

Interestingly, studies say that pursuing goals is also directly linked to making money. According to Patrick Hill, a researcher at the University of Washington, the potential for income and abundance in the lives of goal-oriented people is relatively high.

Goal-consciousness gives meaning to life 

Goals motivate people, invigorate them with a sense of duty, and make life meaningful. Shigehiro Oshi, a researcher at the University of Virginia, has found surprising information about this. Observing the findings from the research conducted on one lakh 41 thousand citizens of 132 countries, he says that the citizens of developing countries are ahead in this respect compared to richer countries. In rich countries, a wide range of opportunities are accessible to the person which makes them undecided and hesitant. But in poor countries, the options are limited. So, it is easier for them to choose from the limited options and find the meaning of living.

And bad news for those who wander through life aimlessly and suffer from anxiety and restlessness as a result. Steven Cole, a researcher at the University of California, said that loneliness and the resulting stress have a negative impact on the human body's genes, which disrupt the work of disease-fighting antibodies in the body, increasing the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer.

Goals change people from the inside

As per researchers, goal is a life-changing catalyst. Because goals eliminate frustration, bring life satisfaction, and change people from within. A visible change becomes apparent in the daily behavior of those pursuing their goals. 

So which group of people do you belong to? Those who are reaping all the benefits while in the pursuit of their goals, or those who are wandering aimlessly, not sure what to pursue yet? If you fall into the second category, then no worries. Just make a start. Set several short-term goals. Make it a habit to set your mind on something and then pursue it. Then aim for long-term goals. Meanwhile, keep your mind and heart open. Be on the lookout for what you want from your life. Sooner or later, you will find it, and embark on the most adventurous journey of your life. But be ready to start with the small. The journey of a thousand begins with a single step.