The Importance of Having Goals for Youth

This is the youth programme, and I am very happy to connect with you through our youth programme. Friends, you are listening to the youth programme on Radio Voice of Life, and I am delighted to see you in your own programme, which is called the Hope of Youth. I thank you, dear listeners, for welcoming me into your homes, workplaces, and shops. As usual, I will introduce myself; I am Faiz. In this part of the programme, we will listen to the first section, and then we will return to continue the programme.

Ahmad, have you ever thought about your future? Do you really understand what you want to achieve in life? I don’t know; sometimes I think maybe I’ll become an engineer, and other times I think about going into business, but I don’t have a clear goal. My dear, this confusion is natural, but if you don’t have a goal, it can be very dangerous. When a person has no goal, they are like a ship without a rudder, drifting wherever the wind blows without any stable direction.

Well, I think I still have time to decide. If I decide to decide, I think I still have time to make a decision. Narges, my dear, I am still young. Ah, you are young, but it’s time to make a decision! Just as God says in the Holy Book that man plans in his heart, but God directs his steps. You see, Ahmad, this means that you and I need to have a goal, but we should pray and seek wisdom from God to guide us on this path.

But Narges, our problem is that I don’t understand what I like or what I am talented at. This is never clear to me. If you don’t understand, you need to try things out. For example, participate in different courses, meet people from different backgrounds, and learn from each experience. Goals don’t just appear on their own; you have to pursue them. You’re right; I have always waited for a day to arrive when my goal would just appear. I wish it were that simple, but no, goals need to be built and discovered.

For example, I have always had an interest in education and decided to become a teacher. At first, I wasn’t very sure, but with every step I took and every effort I made, I felt like, “Ah, this is my future.” And are you happy? Ah, very much because I understand that life has meaning. I understand why I should not get up in the morning just for money; a goal means having an impact on both yourself and others around you. Sometimes I feel very useless; I have no work, no goal, just wasting my days. Everyone experiences days like that, Ahmad, but it’s important that you consciously decide to be yourself and to choose for yourself.

Ahmad, you can decide today to change and have a goal, and you need to ask God for help. We may have forgotten God, and maybe that’s why I feel confused. Narges, don’t be confused. Ahmad, return to God. Pray and spend time with the Holy Book to see what ignites your heart. Life without God is like a pen without ink, which cannot write anything. I suggest that starting with the Holy Book would be a good beginning. I am sure it will be a very good start, and if you want, we can pray together. We can share our ideas about our goals together.

My dear Ahmad, I am truly happy to help you. Thank you, dear. Perhaps our conversation is a starting point for setting goals in our lives. Dear young people and respected listeners, we warmly welcome you to this part of the programme. This time, we are once again here with a very important and significant topic for you, dear listeners. The theme of this programme is the importance of having goals for young people. Really, if a young person has no goal, it’s like a ship moving in the sea without a compass.

Yes, dear listeners, we also have our dear guest Faiz in our programme. Faiz, hello and welcome to the programme. Yes, I also greet you, Narges, and the dear listeners. Narges, you’re talking about the importance of having goals for young people. This topic is indeed very important. You’ve pointed out well that if there are no goals, it’s like a ship moving in the sea without a compass. Truly, this part is significant, Narges.

Today, we see that our youth really need goals and goal-setting. Many of our young people waste their lives without specific goals. If there’s no goal-setting, we can see what happens. The topic of goals serves as a motivation for us to move forward. It is a very important and sensitive topic, Narges. Let’s discuss this topic further. Yes, exactly, dear young people, many times we see that some young people have talents and abilities, but because they lack a clear goal, their time and energy get wasted.

Having a goal is not just a whim, dear young people. A goal is a new decision for shaping our future. So, Faiz, why is having a goal so important, and what problems arise if we don’t have one? Narges, one of the sensitive questions is why having a goal is important for so many young people searching for direction. Let’s explore this topic from a scientific perspective and then solve several other related issues together.

Having a goal in life is one of the fundamental topics that various fields of science have addressed from different angles. We can explore this from the perspectives of biology, economics, sociology, and philosophy, summarising how different sciences have approached the concept of goals. However, I want to share insights from sociology. Researchers have found that having a goal has a direct impact on our physical lifespan. Biological studies show that individuals with clear goals have lower levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood.

This means that some proteins in the body are crucial for fighting off significant bodily attacks. But what do these proteins do? If we have a goal, biological sciences have proven that individuals with a goal have fewer inflammatory proteins in their blood. Interestingly, Narges, having a goal strengthens our DNA telomeres. What are telomeres? They are the protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes. The longer these telomeres are, the healthier our heart and vital organs are. So, we see that having a goal instructs the body to pursue a longer life. Thus, Narges, it’s evident how important this is. If you have a goal, when you perform tasks meaningfully, your brain releases hormones that gradually positively affect your vital organs. We can strive to be goal-oriented young people, as they tend to bear more responsibilities within society, making life easier for themselves and others.

Narges, what does this mean for us, dear listeners and young people? Having a goal is a tool for managing life. If you have a clear goal, you will find it easier to manage your life better. I would like to give an example here: if your goal is clear and bright, you won’t let others take advantage of you. You will learn well and see the responses to your efforts, meaning not everyone can exploit you.

The second aspect, dear young people, is resilience in the face of difficulties. When we have a big goal, hardships become smaller, and we don’t let them deter us. Thus, we see that our resilience increases. To explain scientifically, Narges, young people should not feel that their goal must be world-changing; it doesn’t have to be so grand that it seems unattainable. Even a small goal, like learning a new skill or reading a book, can lead to personal growth. Step by step, we can start moving towards our goals.

I want to share four practical steps regarding goal-setting with you. First, every young person should have a clear goal for their future. Living without a goal is like travelling on a road without a map. Narges, you pointed out the importance of having a compass, and to reach big goals, we must start with small steps. The fourth point is that failure on the journey does not mean the end; rather, it’s part of the path to success. Narges, you asked why goals are important. There are several significant reasons that I have highlighted, and I will mention a few more here.

The first is that it brings focus. When young people are determined to become doctors or engineers or to become important figures in society, having a goal helps maintain concentration. The second reason is that goals lead to better time management. If you set clear goals, you won’t waste your time. The third reason is that goals provide motivation. Narges, when difficulties arise, we don’t fall apart. Just as we discussed, goals are essential and significant in life. Young people should not just focus on their aspirations.

Narges, thank you. Yes, exactly, dear young people, let’s see what God says in the Holy Book about the importance of having goals. In Philippians 3:13-14, God says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Yes, dear young people, we see that God is telling us to forget the past and strive for our goals. Yes, dear listeners, now we will listen to a beautiful song together, and after that, we will welcome you back to continue the programme.

Music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music, music.

This often leads to problems in our relationships with family, our fathers and mothers, and even in our communities. So what are the issues? The first is disorder in life. The second is dependence on others’ opinions. If you don’t have a clear goal, you listen to what others say. “What does so-and-so say?” “What does that person think?” You feel compelled to follow their opinions. No, if you have a goal, dear young people, you move straight toward your work and ignore others’ opinions.

The third issue is hopelessness and a sense of emptiness. When a person lacks a goal and doesn’t set clear goals, life feels like a burden, and they may feel hopeless, Narges. This is very important, Narges. If we lack goals, these problems creep into our lives and can gradually apply pressure until we feel overwhelmed and unable to continue. This is another crucial topic, Narges.

We have discussed what happens in our lives when we lack goals. Now, let’s explore a very important question: what is the solution? How can we gradually move towards setting goals? The first step, Narges, is self-awareness. Young people need to spend time honestly evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. They should understand what they are good at and what they are not.

Dear young people and respected listeners, there are many areas in our lives where we may not have the capability to succeed. We want to highlight the areas where you have strengths. Yes, dear young people and listeners, the first point is self-awareness; you need to recognise your strengths and weaknesses.

Narges, the second point is to establish specific and realistic goals. Goals should be measurable; they should be something you can understand and grasp. They shouldn't be so grand that they seem unattainable. Young people should set small, measurable goals and move towards them. The third point is to write down your goals; when you write them down, it encourages you to think about them more, and your mind focuses on them.

The fourth point for young people and respected listeners is to plan step by step. If you plan step by step regarding your goals, you will understand where to start and how to proceed. What is the first step towards that goal? What is the last step? Knowing where to start will help you progress towards your goals. The fifth point, Narges, is to pray and consult with God. Young people and respected listeners, remember that praying is one of the most important and fundamental things in this world.

Young people, be aware that when you pray, you are placing a significant portion of your efforts in God's hands. You can say, “God, I have done my best, and now the outcome is in your hands.” Narges, you asked about the problems of lacking goals, and I have highlighted those problems and suggested solutions.

Yes, exactly, dear partner, thank you for your insights and guidance. Dear young people, we conclude this programme by understanding that having goals can change the destiny of a generation. Young people, we have also learned that having goals is an excellent choice and a necessity, as goals provide direction, motivation, and release us from confusion.

The good news for young people is that anyone can define their goals today and take that first step. Remember, if we have goals today, tomorrow we can look back at our past with pride. Youth is about building, not wasting our time in our younger years. Every day we spend with purpose and determination becomes a solid foundation for our future. The decisions we make today shape our character and position for tomorrow.

So let’s start today because the best time to build our future is now. But dear young people, this was our programme for this time. Until the next programme, may God bless and protect you.