Goal Setting The JKYog Way: A Spiritual Guide to Success
"You may have played soccer or at least seen it. It has two goal posts and two teams trying to kick the one ball into the enemy's goal. Now from a match of soccer, if you were to remove the goals, would that match remain interesting? Of course not."
Similarly, in the game of life, what are the goals that you have defined for yourself, or are you playing this incredibly precious game without any goals at all?
Swami Mukundananda shares a profound, humorous anecdote that perfectly illustrates this modern dilemma: "I am reminded of the time when I was standing at a crossroad and a driver stopped by. He asked me, sir where will this road go? I said to many places, where do you wish to go? He said I don't have any destination in mind. I said then why ask, just carry on."
Millions of people go through life just like that driver; they carry on without any definite goals. However, a truly purposeful life is one where we not only have goals, but we ensure they are proper. And to set proper goals, we must first understand the true meaning of success.
Let us dive deep into the JKYog way of goal setting, exploring the intersection of modern psychological science, neuroscience, and the eternal wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.
The Illusions of Success: How Do You Define It?
Before we can set a proper goal, we have to define what success actually looks like. If you ask society, the answers are widely varied, and often materialistic.
As Swami Mukundananda points out, the Oxford Dictionary defines success as "the attainment of fame, wealth or status," or "the achievement of an aim or purpose." But this definition does not help us understand how to define success for our own lives.
If we look to prominent modern thinkers and historical figures, we get a myriad of perspectives:
- Deepak Chopra states that success in life could be defined as "the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals."
- Stephen Covey looked at success as deeply individual and said, "if you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience, you will find your definition of success."
- Winston Churchill stated, "success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
- Richard Branson states, "the more you are actively and practically engaged, the more successful you will feel."
While these are all insightful perspectives from highly accomplished individuals, none of these seem to capture the entire human spirit. They leave a subtle void, a missing piece in the puzzle of the soul.
Swami Mukundananda’s Ultimate Definition of Success
To fill this void, Swami Mukundananda offers a definition of success that is breathtakingly simple, yet infinitely profound:
"To be good, to do good and to feel good. So simple."
"To Be Good"
The first part of this definition is the aspiration to try and be the best that we can be. But why do we have this aspiration? Where does the desire to be a "good" person come from?
Swamiji explains that this aspiration is deeply embedded within all of us; intrinsically, we all love divine qualities. No matter how bad somebody may be, they still want good behavior from others.
To illustrate this, Swamiji recalls a powerful moment from the ancient epic, the Mahabharata. During the great war, the fierce warrior Karna’s chariot wheel got stuck in the mud. Seeing this vulnerability, Lord Krishna instructed Arjun, "shoot him in the back. When his chest is towards you, you won't be able to kill him."
Karna, hearing this, was outraged. He cried out, "Oh Shri Krishna, you manifested the Vedas in which you talked about Kshatriya Dharma, the code of conduct for warriors and you yourself are telling Arjun to do cheating. What kind of a Bhagawan are you." Karna pleaded, "Kshatra Dharma Mavekshaswa" (Oh Lord Krishna, what is the Dharma of Kshatriyas? Think, think).
Shri Krishna smiled and replied, "Karna, you love Dharma? Where was your Dharma when Draupadi was being humiliated? Where was your Dharma when the rights of the Pandavas were being snatched from them? You yourself are fighting on behalf of the unrighteous Kauravas and you expect Dharmic behavior from us?" Lord Krishna poignantly asked, "Kaur Dharmaste Tata Gata" (Karan, what Dharma did you follow at that time?).
This proves that no matter how one may behave for oneself, from others they always expect kindness, justice, and truthfulness.
Even in a gang of dacoits, if a gang member lies to the head, the chief gets annoyed, saying, "You told me a lie?" As the English saying goes, there is "honesty amongst thieves"as the head bandit expects honest behavior from others.
From others, we always expect justice, kindness, and truthfulness because these are the qualities of God Himself, and as His little parts, we naturally love divine virtues. The desire to be the best that we can be doesn't need to be inculcated in anyone; it is the intrinsic urge of our soul itself.
The Science of Goal Setting: Why Our Brains Need Targets
Once we understand that our ultimate goal is to evolve spiritually "to be good, to do good, and to feel good," we need to understand the mechanics of how to set the smaller, daily goals that get us there.
Modern science heavily supports the JKYog approach to intentional living. Decades of psychological and neurological research have proven that the human brain is literally hardwired for goal-setting.
Edwin Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory
In the late 1960s, pioneering psychologist Dr. Edwin Locke revolutionized our understanding of human motivation. His renowned "Goal-Setting Theory," widely cited in psychological literature (such as by Positive Psychology and TSW Training), proved that specific and challenging goals lead to significantly higher performance than vague or easy ones.
Locke identified five key principles that every successful goal must possess:
- Clarity: A goal must be precise and unambiguous. Saying "I want to be more spiritual" is too vague. Saying "I will read two chapters of the Bhagavad Gita every morning at 6:00 AM" provides clarity.
- Challenge: The goal must stretch your current capabilities. According to Locke, we are biologically driven to invest more effort when the goal is difficult yet attainable.
- Commitment: You must have a deep, personal "why" attached to the goal (which perfectly aligns with Swamiji's teaching of seeking internal, spiritual success).
- Feedback: You must have a way to measure your progress and course-correct.
- Task Complexity: Complex goals must be broken down into manageable, bite-sized steps to prevent psychological overwhelm.
The Neuroscience of Motivation
Beyond psychology, the physical wiring of your brain responds dramatically to goal setting. According to recent research published on the neuroscience of success, setting a clear goal actively engages the brain's prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for decision-making and executive function.
Furthermore, having a goal activates the brain's dopamine system. Dopamine is often called the "motivation molecule." Every time you take a small step toward your goal, your brain releases a hit of dopamine, creating a sense of pleasure and satisfaction. This creates a powerful neurological loop, encouraging you to keep pushing forward.
Science also shows us that the brain possesses neuroplasticity, which is the ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. When you set a goal to "do good" and consistently practice it, you are literally rewiring the physical structure of your brain to make goodness your default state!
The Ultimate Blueprint: Goal Setting in the Bhagavad Gita
While modern psychology and neuroscience offer incredible tools for understanding how the brain pursues goals, the Bhagavad Gita provides the ultimate wisdom on what our goals should be, and the mindset required to achieve them without succumbing to stress and anxiety.
In Chapter 2, Verse 41 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna delivers one of the most powerful teachings on goal setting and mental focus:
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन |
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् || 41||
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śhākhā hyanantāśh cha buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām
Bhagavad Gita 2.41: Translation: "O descendent of the Kurus, the intellect of those who are on this path is resolute, and their aim is one-pointed. But the intellect of those who are irresolute is many-branched."
The Power of a Resolute Intellect (Vyavasāyātmikā Buddhi)
In his deeply illuminating online commentary for this verse, Swami Mukundananda dissects the internal mechanics of the human mind. He explains that our internal machinery consists of the mind, the intellect, and the ego. In this hierarchy, the intellect is superior to the mind.
The intellect makes the decisions, while the mind generates desires based on those decisions. If your intellect firmly decides that earning wealth is the ultimate goal of life, your mind will constantly hanker for money. If your intellect decides that prestige is the goal, your mind will crave fame.
Swamiji gives a highly relatable example: "Throughout the day, we humans control our mind with the intellect. While sitting at home, we adopt informal postures in which the mind finds comfort. Yet, we adopt appropriate formal postures while sitting in the office against the nature of the mind."
This proves that we already possess the power to control our wandering minds through our intellect. Buddhi Yog (the yoga of the intellect) is the art of using proper spiritual knowledge to guide the mind in the right direction.
A person with a "resolute intellect" cultivates a single-minded focus on their ultimate goal, which is God-realization and spiritual evolution. Swamiji writes, "Such a person traverses the path like an arrow released from the bow. This resolve becomes so strong in higher stages of sādhanā that nothing can deter the sādhak from treading the path. He or she thinks, 'Even if there are millions of obstacles on my path, even if the whole world condemns me, even if I have to lay down my life, I will still not give up my sādhanā.'"
Conversely, an "irresolute" intellect is many-branched. Without a clear, singular, overarching spiritual purpose, a person's goals shift with the wind. One day they want wealth, the next day they want a new relationship, and the next they want to travel the world. This fractured focus leaves them exhausted and perpetually unfulfilled.
Practical Steps to Set Goals the JKYog Way
How do we take this profound philosophy from Swami Mukundananda, combine it with the science of the brain, and apply it to our daily lives? Here is the JKYog blueprint for goal setting:
1. Ensure Your Goals Align with "To Be Good, To Do Good"
Before writing down your goals for your career, health, or finances, run them through Swamiji's filter. Will achieving this goal help you develop divine virtues? Will it allow you to serve others and society? If a goal only serves to inflate your ego, it is a "many-branched" distraction.
2. Formulate "Dharma-Centered" SMART Goals
Apply Edwin Locke's principles of clarity and challenge, but elevate them spiritually. Don't just set a goal to "get a promotion." Set a goal to "master my professional skills so I can provide excellently for my family and donate 10% of my increased income to charity." This gives the goal a profound, unshakeable "why."
3. Detach the Mind from the Fruits of Action
This is the secret weapon of the Bhagavad Gita. Once you have set a resolute, one-pointed goal, you must detach yourself from the immediate results. You control your effort; the Supreme Lord controls the outcome. By letting go of the anxiety over the "fruit" of your work, your mind becomes completely peaceful, allowing you to perform at your absolute peak.
4. Feed Your Intellect Daily
To keep your intellect resolute, it must be constantly nourished with divine knowledge. Just as you feed your body three meals a day, you must feed your intellect with Satsang (spiritual association), reading scriptures, and listening to the wisdom of a true Guru.
Step Into Your Purpose
You are not meant to drift aimlessly like a car without a destination. You are a divine soul equipped with a brilliant intellect, capable of incredible focus and profound spiritual evolution. It is time to set up the goalposts on the soccer field of your life.
Make the definitive choice today to pursue the only success that truly matters: to be good, to do good, and to feel the eternal bliss of connection with the Divine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Swami Mukundananda's ultimate definition of success?
Swamiji defines true success incredibly simply yet profoundly: "To be good, to do good and to feel good." It goes far beyond material wealth, focusing on the intrinsic desire of the soul to cultivate divine virtues and serve others.
2. Why do human beings intrinsically want to be "good"?
According to Swami Mukundananda, we intrinsically love divine qualities like justice, kindness, and truthfulness because these are the exact qualities of God Himself. Since we are tiny fragments of the Divine, the desire to be the best we can be is an intrinsic urge of our soul.
3. How does the Bhagavad Gita approach goal setting?
The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the need for a resolute, one-pointed intellect (vyavasāyātmikā buddhi), as stated in verse 2.41. It teaches us to set a firm spiritual goal and use our intellect to guide our wandering mind toward it, without becoming attached to the immediate material results of our actions.
4. Where can I learn more about this definition of success?
Swami Mukundananda elaborates fully on these principles in his highly acclaimed book, 7 Mindsets for Success, Happiness and Fulfillment.
5. What is Edwin Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory?
It is a well-established psychological framework that proves specific, clear, and challenging goals lead to much higher performance than vague or easy ones. It perfectly aligns with the focused discipline required in spiritual practices (Sadhana).
Take the next step on your spiritual journey today:
- Read the Ultimate Guide: Dive deeper into these concepts by reading Swamiji's comprehensive guide on this topic. As he encourages: "Do read the entire definition of success in my latest book, 7 Mindsets for Success, Happiness and Fulfillment. You can look it up on its Amazon page.
- Immerse Yourself in Wisdom: Subscribe to Swami Mukundananda’s YouTube channel for your daily dose of inspiration, mind management strategies, and profound Vedic knowledge.
- Study the Ultimate Manual for Life: Dive deep into the complete, authoritative commentary of the Gita by visiting the Holy Bhagavad Gita website. Use it as your daily compass for goal setting.
- Join the Community: Attend transformative events, kirtans, and festivals at the Radha Krishna Temple in Dallas.