Scientists revealed a simple secret to achieving complex goals

People who know how to control their emotions and act decisively are significantly more likely to achieve difficult goals than those who tend to hesitate and postpone decisions. This conclusion was reached by psychologists from the University of Trier in Germany.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the work was published in the journal Motivation and Emotion (ME).

The scientists relied on the theory of personality systems interaction, according to which success in achieving goals depends not so much on motivation or time, but on the ability to manage one's internal state. So-called "action-oriented" people switch more easily from the planning stage to action, especially in stressful situations. Their opposite are "state-oriented" individuals, who get stuck in thoughts and doubts.

To test the theory, authors Karla Waldenmeier and Nicola Baumann conducted a four-week study with 199 participants, mostly students (average age - 22 years). Each participant chose six personal goals, assessed their difficulty, and after a month reported whether they had achieved them.

The results proved that the more difficult the goal, the lower the probability of achieving it. However, for "action-oriented" participants, this connection was weaker: they were more often successful even with difficult tasks. Meanwhile, for "state-oriented" participants, success sharply decreased as goals became more complex. For easy tasks, there were almost no differences between the groups.

"Who climbs Everest? It all depends on how difficult a person considers this goal. For the 'action-oriented,' it's another challenge; for the 'contemplative,' it's an obstacle," the study authors noted.

The scientists emphasized that the key factor is emotional self-regulation: the ability to remain calm when something doesn't go according to plan, and to transition from analysis to action at the right time.