Purpose and Goal: The Direction and the Step. How to Run the Marathon of Life

Life isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. And in a marathon, the key isn’t speed — it’s endurance. It’s about staying with the course when it gets painful, boring, or hard. That’s where goal and purpose come into play. Often confused, they are in fact very different.

A goal is a concrete, measurable task. Run 5K. Wake up at 6:30. Save $500. Book 10 therapy sessions. Goals are finite. You can tick them off, track them, schedule them.

But purpose — that’s something deeper. It’s your inner compass. It’s the "why" behind everything. It might sound like: to feel alive, to grow free, to live fully, to heal, to reconnect with my body.

Goals can change depending on the context. But purpose — sets the direction. Goals are tools. Purpose is meaning.

You can hit every target — and still feel lost. That’s because success without meaning doesn’t nourish us.

At mriya.run, we believe the journey matters more than the destination. It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about moving toward yourself, at your pace, with your breath, and your truth.

We are not here to compete. We’re here to build inner stamina. To stay present. To go through the highs and the lows. To return to ourselves again and again.

Because real life is made of experiences, not checkmarks. It’s built from early mornings, setbacks, insights, comebacks. That’s where growth lives — in how we stay, not just in what we achieve.

Define your purpose: What kind of life calls to you? What state are you moving toward?
Break it down into goals: What small, realistic steps will take you in that direction?
Focus less on results and more on the experience of becoming.
Track not only what you do, but how you feel: What’s changing inside?
And remember: progress is not only what you reach — it's how you walk.

This is a space for those who want to live with intention. To move. To feel. To grow through the long run.

We believe that a dream is movement — and life is the longest race we’ll ever run. Let’s make it real. And meaningful.

Don’t rush. But don’t stop. Breathe. Listen. And keep running — toward yourself.

It is important to understand that a goal is not just a simple desire or dream. It should be clear, specific and measurable. Goals should be formulated in such a way that they are realistic and attainable, but at the same time sufficiently evoking ambition and desire for growth. It's also important to set a deadline, which helps create pressure and a strategy for productive work.

One of the advantages should be planning the steps to achieve the goal. Planning is a map that helps us navigate the time and actions that must be taken to achieve a set goal. Breaking down big goals into smaller sub-goals and defining specific tasks for each of them helps to avoid feeling overwhelmed and ensures gradual progress.

Goals also stimulate us to self-development. When we set ambitious goals, we challenge ourselves to grow, learn, and expand our abilities. The process of achieving goals helps us develop important skills such as self-discipline, time management, and teamwork.

In addition, goals give us motivation and perseverance. When we have a clear purpose, we have a clear "why" - the reason why we do what we do. This "why" becomes our internal source of motivation, which supports us in difficult moments and helps to overcome obstacles.

Goals also help us prioritize and focus on the most important things. They distribute our attention and energy, helping us avoid distractions and focus on what really matters to us.

Вадім Печкуров під час робочого зв'язку. Чудові. Травень 2023

In a world without goals, we wander without a definite goal, hopelessly dispersing our efforts and opportunities. Goals are what define our lives, giving them meaning and direction. They are the basis of success, regardless of the sphere of life in which we strive to achieve results.

Therefore, setting clear, specific and achievable goals is a key factor in achieving success. Goals give us direction, motivation, and focus, encourage self-development, and help us set priorities. They stimulate our development and help us overcome difficulties on the way to success. Let goals be your appropriate pattern that guides you toward purpose in all areas of your life.

Recommendations

Moving towards a goal and setting goals are important stages of achieving success. Here are some recommendations that may be helpful in this process:

Define a clear, specific and measurable goal: Make your goal as specific and precise as possible. For example, instead of a general goal of "being successful," define exactly what you mean by success and how you will measure it. For example, "increase monthly sales by 20% over the next 6 months."
Break a big goal into smaller sub-goals: Breaking a big goal into smaller, manageable sub-goals helps make the process of reaching a goal more achievable and manageable. Break down big goals into steps, tasks, and milestones that lead you to your final goal.
Set realistic deadlines: When setting goals, it is important to consider the actual time required to achieve them. Be realistic and determine an adequate deadline, taking into account the circumstances, resources and your ability to work towards the goal.
Create an action plan: Develop a plan that outlines the specific steps you need to take to achieve your goal. Allocate tasks, set priorities and identify the necessary resources to effectively manage your progress.
Stay motivated: Finding internal motivation is an important aspect of achieving goals. Find out why this goal is important to you and how it corresponds to your values and desires. Remember your goal, visualize it, and find ways to keep yourself motivated along the way.
Be prepared to adjust: Life is full of unpredictability and can change. Be prepared to adapt and adjust your goals and strategies as necessary. Flexibility and openness to change will help you adapt to new conditions and maintain a certain direction of achieving your goals.
Remember to enjoy the process: Achieving your goals is a long process and it's important to enjoy each step. Celebrate your achievements, rest, practice self-reliance, and remember that the process itself is a valuable experience that helps you grow and develop.

Setting goals and moving toward them is an important element of success. By following these guidelines, you will be able to create a clear strategy and motivation to realize your most ambitious goals.

Question

What are your main personal goals at the moment?
How do you formulate your goals? How do they relate to your values and desires?
How do you allocate your time and resources to achieve your goals?
What strategies do you use to motivate yourself and achieve your goals?
How do you measure your progress in achieving your own goals? How do you know when you've reached your goal?
What obstacles do you usually encounter on the way to achieving your goals and how do you overcome them?
Are there changes to your goal system? Do you review them periodically and make necessary changes?
How do you plan your steps and actions to achieve your goals? Do you use phasing strategies?
Do you divide your goals into long-term and short-term? How do they interact with each other?
How do you define success in achieving your goals? What criteria do you use for evaluation?