Essentials: Tools for Setting & Achieving Goals | Dr. Emily Balcetis

Vision and motivation are linked, and strategies can be used to look at the world differently to overcome obstacles. Dr. Emily Balcetis discusses how elite runners maintain a hyper-focus, narrowing their attention almost like a spotlight on a target, which can be taught to others. Studies show that people trained to narrow their focus moved 27% faster and felt 17% less pain during exercise. Visualizing goals can be effective for identifying what one wants, but not for achieving the goal. Thinking about obstacles that stand in the way of success can improve motivation in the long run, as demonstrated by Michael Phelps's preparation for potential goggle failure. People with more energy perceive distances as more constricted, making goals seem more attainable.