Jonathan Padilla

Professor Dagher
UWRT 1102
6 February 2015

Padilla 1

DOUBLE EN TRY JOURNAL

PERSONAL GOALS, LIFE MEANING,
AND VIRTUE: WELLSPRINGS
OF A POSITIVE LIFE

Response

Critical Points
The driving concern has been to understand
how personal goals are related to long-term
levels of happiness and life satisfaction and
how ultimately to use this knowledge in a way
that might optimize human well- being. How
do goals contribute to living the positive life?
Of all of the goals that people strive for, which
really matter? Which goals most provide a
sense of meaning and purpose? Which goals
are worth living for and possibly worth dying
for?

This is ultimately what I am curious about. Its

great to finally find a source that targets my
curiosity and focal point.

For many people, of course, the primary goal

in life is to be happy. Yet research indicates
that happiness is most often a by-product of
participat- ing in worthwhile projects and
activities that do not have as their primary
focus the attainment of happiness.

Because a bucket list is a list of unique

worthwhile activities, is a bucket list a way to
find happiness?

In a nutshell, I want to find evidence that

supports my belief that having these long-term
goals proves to be healthy, and beneficial.
These guiding questions can possibly lead me
to the answer of my curiosity.

Its interesting to note that research indicates

happiness is often found in worthwhile
activities.

Whether they focus primarily on basic

I agree with Frisch. Happiness can
research or intervention, psychologists also definitely be found in the achievement of
see goal-striving as vital to the good life. important goals, desires, and needs.
Frisch (1998) defined happiness as the
I believe a true bucket list has all three
extent to which important goals, needs, and aspects, it is just a reminder to push to
wishes have been fulfilled (p. 35).
achieve those passions.

Goals are essential components of a

persons experience of his or her life
as meaningful and contribute to the
process by which people construe
their lives as meaningful or
worthwhile.

I believe life and destiny is guided by

goals. Each individuals personal goals is
what determines his/her path in life.

Some have argued that the construct

of meaning has no meaning
outside of a persons goals and
purposesthat is, what a person is
trying to do. Goals are signals that
orient a person to what is valuable,
meaningful, and purposeful.

This is very true. I believe goals are

powerful and in a way they reflect personal
values, and what is meaningful.

I believe this because of the statement to

the left. Goals are significant

In my bucket list, a decent amount of my

goals are symbolic in a sense. For
example, skydiving may represent
overcoming fear. From this, one can get
the sense that I strongly want to get over
my fears.