Personally, I rarely set goals, and I'm happy this way. I've achieved a fair amount in running and academics without putting any pressure at all on myself. Still, I do set minor goals like "make my bed every day" or "learn about evolution."
I think it's a short-term vs. long-term happiness trade-off. Like, in the short-term, I'd rather sleep in an extra minute than make my bed. But in the long-term, I can pat myself on the back for becoming more conscientious and enjoy the aesthetic appeal. In the short-term, I'd have more fun going hiking than reading about evolution, but in the long-term, it feels good to be less ignorant.
Having specific goals probably helps people focus on what's important to them in the long run. But yeah, if personal happiness is someone's only/top priority in life, and that happiness doesn't depend too much on the happiness of the rest of the world, then that person might be better off just living in the moment and not worrying too much about goals.
(personal note: I have never understood the point of making a bed. I would rather have an unmade bed than a made bed)
It seems to be an important concept that setting goals is something that should be done. Why?
Advocates of goal-setting (and the sheer number of them) would imply that there is a reason for the concept.
I have to emphasis that I don't want answers that suggest - "Don't set goals", as is occasionally written. I specifically want answers that explain why goals are good. see http://zenhabits.net/no-goal/ for more ideas on not having goals.
I have to emphasise again that I don't mean to discredit goals or suggest that the Dilbert's Scott Adams "make systems not goals" suggestion is better or should be followed more than, "set goals". see http://blog.dilbert.com/post/102964992706/goals-vs-systems . I specifically want to ask - why should we set goals? (because the answer is not intuitive or clear to me)
Here in ROT13 is a theory; please make a suggestion first before translating:
Cer-qrpvqrq tbnyf npg nf n thvqryvar sbe shgher qrpvfvbaf; Tbnyf nffvfg jvgu frys pbageby orpnhfr lbh pna znxr cer-cynaarq whqtrzragf (V.r. V nz ba n qvrg naq pna'g rng fhtne - jura cerfragrq jvgu na rngvat-qrpvfvba). Jura lbh trg gb n guvaxvat fcnpr bs qrpvfvbaf gung ner ybat-grez be ybat-ernpuvat, gb unir cerivbhfyl pubfra tbnyf (nffhzvat lbh qvq gung jryy; jvgu pbeerpg tbny-vagreebtngvba grpuavdhrf); jvyy yrnq lbh gb znxr n orggre qrpvfvba guna bgurejvfr hacynaarq pubvprf.
Gb or rssrpgvir - tbnyf fubhyq or zber guna whfg na vagragvba. "V jnag gb or n zvyyvbanver", ohg vapyhqr n fgengrtl gb cebterff gbjneqf npuvrivat gung tbny. (fgevpgyl fcrnxvat bhe ybpny YrffJebat zrrghc'f tbny zbqry vf 3 gvrerq; "gur qernz". "gur arkg gnetrg". "guvf jrrx'f npgvba" Jurer rnpu bar yrnqf gb gur arkg bar. r.t. "tb gb fcnpr", "trg zl qrterr va nrebfcnpr ratvarrevat", "fcraq na ubhe n avtug fghqlvat sbe zl qrterr")
Qvfnqinagntr bs n tbnyf vf vg pna yvzvg lbhe bccbeghavgl gb nafjre fvghngvbaf jvgu abiry nafjref. (Gb pbagvahr gur fnzr rknzcyr nf nobir - Jura cerfragrq jvgu na rngvat pubvpr lbh znl abg pbafvqre gur pubvpr gb "abg rng nalguvat" vs lbh gubhtug uneq rabhtu nobhg vg; ohg ng yrnfg lbh zvtug pubbfr gur fyvtugyl urnyguvre bcgvba orgjrra ninvynoyr sbbqf).
I suspect that the word "goals" will need a good taboo, feel free to do so if you think that is needed in your explanation.