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As volitional beings, we are free to choose both the goals we pursue and the behaviors that pursue those goals. Reflect on the relationship between chosen goals and chosen behaviors. Make sure you express a clear understanding of each.
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33 Replies
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Our goals are our desires, and our behaviors are how we try to get our goals. A good goal can still lead to bad behaviors as corrupted beings. A goal of having a strong marriage can, for example, lead a man to go into debt to buy things for her or to neglect other relationships (such as God) in order to prioritize her. That said, a bad goal will always have bad behaviors.
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We pursue our chosen goals through our behavior. Comfort, attention, power, money, independence are all examples of goals. The behaviors are the individual actions we choose to make along the way to get closer to the goal.
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If I have a goal of controlling others so that my world can feel orderly and without risk, my decisions while parenting my adult children will be determined by that goal. Instead of seeing them as fellow image bearers of Christ and speaking to them in that way, I might talk down to them, nag them, maybe even raise my voice at them in order to try to control them. They then become part of the goal/strategy web that happens when we make goals of importance goals of necessity.
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Behaviors are strategies to achieve the goals.
So if I set a goal of being cherished, loved and adored by my spouse as ultimate…my behaviors will be designed to achieve this
If I set a goal of being comforted, I will choose behaviors that make me feel comfort, whether that is eating too much, shopping, etc
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The most important goal in life is pursuing God and his will for our lives. Also making Him the centre of our lives so that his spirit leads us to desire the right things that align with his will and helps a closer walk with God. So if that is my goal I will study his word , pray to Him and be in fellowship with other believers .
However if I have no relationship with God I am in charge of my life, I set goals at different time points and pursue them with actions that enable me achieve that goal. The only problem we all find outvis that achieving these goals only provide momentary satisfaction and pleasure compared to a God centred life.