Values vs Goals
Values and Goals are two important words that have to be understood carefully. They are to be understood as two different words with different connotations.
Values are principles that are given importance or are considered important in life. Goals on the other hand are the objectives one should strive hard to achieve.
One of the main differences between values and goals is that a goal is absolutely personal whereas values are impersonal. On the other hand values are universal. Human values for example are universal in character. They do not apply to any single individual. Values are applicable to the society as a whole.
Goal is applicable to the single individual. In fact it can be said that goal refers to the target that an individual strives hard to reach in his or her life. It is thus understood that goal remains as a target until it is reached or achieved. On the other hand values are there to be adhered to.
Adherence to truth, non-violence, non-injury, helping the distressed and the needy and honesty are some of the values of human life. They are not called goals. Values have to be followed and adhered to by the human beings for the welfare of the society then live in.
On the other hand a goal has to be reached or achieved by an individual for personal glory as in the sentence, ‘My goal is achieved’. Goal often refers to a condition or a state. Look at the two sentences given below:
1. The goal of life is to attain salvation.
2. The goal of the country is to attain independence.
In both the sentences the word ‘goal’ refers to a condition or a state. In the first sentence the word ‘goal’ refers to a state whereas in the second sentence the word ‘goal’ refers to a condition.