Jonathan Padilla

Professor Dagher
UWRT 1102
8 February 2015
Notes on Sources

Personal values, belief and attitudes:

In Personal Values, Belief and Attitudes, the general idea revolves around learning about our
individual values, beliefs, and attitudes. Here, the author explores each topic, and goes into detail
by defining each, elaborating on how we individually build our values, beliefs, and attitudes, and
how each contributes to our perspective on the world. Through research, I discovered that
pursuing our personal goals is a way of expressing our values and who we are. This source
relates to my topic by elaborating on how we came to determine our values, what influenced
them, and how they impact our unique perspective on life.

Handbook of Positive Psychology:

Through one's needs, values, goals, emotions, and action, one can find his/herself on the right
track to achieving happiness. In Snyder's Handbook of Positive Psychology, He talks mainly
about circumstances, and requirements that will help guide one to finding happiness. Relating to
my topic of bucket lists/personal goals leading to happiness and a more positive life, Snyder
refers specifically to the correlation between goal setting and happiness. To Snyder, goals are the
way to fulfilling desires and expressing values. He believes that goals are values expressed
through action."If a person values good nutrition, the way to attain it is to set goals to eat specific

types of food in specific amounts at specific times of the day." Ultimately, goals bring a sense of
purpose, unique to our lives, and upon accomplishment, yields great personal reward and
satisfaction.

Attaining Personal Goals: Self-Concordance Plus Implementation Intentions Equals

Success
In Chicoine's Attaining Personal Goals: Self-Concordance Plus Implementation Intentions
Equals Success, he gives insight on how to achieve personal goals. More specifically, selfconcordance, and implementation, an organized plan, one can find it easier to achieve his or her
goal. This source relates to my topic as it guides one to attaining personal goals. A lot of the time,
people do not achieve their dreams because of the wrong approach. Chicoine brilliantly explains
how commitment and logistics to goal attainment works well and efficiently. Self-concordance,
or commitment is huge in Chicoine's eyes. This sparks motivation and desire in pursuing
personal goals. In addition, with implementation, or an action plan, one can find it easier to focus
on the goal, breaking away from distractions.

Striving for the Sacred: Personal Goals, Life Meaning, and Religion
Ultimately, in Emmons' Striving for the Sacred: Personal Goals, Life Meaning, and Religion, he
believes that goals are what our lives revolve around. Significant and purposeful life goals
structure our lives completely. Emmons believes that the progress of pursuing life goals
influences how we carry ourselves individually, and even how we feel. This source relates to my
topic of the importance of a bucket list because it proves the great impact life goals have in our
lives.

PERSONAL GOALS,LIFE MEANING, AND VIRTUE: WELLSPRINGS OF A

POSITIVE LIFE
In Robert A. Emmons' Personal Goals, Life Meaning, and Virtue: Wellsprings of a Positive Life,

he ultimately argues that the achievement in personal goals lead to happiness and a purposeful
life. Emmons begins his document by examining the correlation between the achievement in
important personal goals and happiness, supported with evidence founded by psychologists,
researchers, and therapists. Life goals guide our lives and when accomplished, happiness, and a
positive outlook can be found as by products. Life goals and dreams ultimately structure our
lives making every accomplishment meaningful and significant. Through this accomplishment
can one find true happiness and contentment. This source relates to my topic as it touches the
correlation between happiness and pursuing personal goals.

The Virtue of Selfishness

Elaborating on what true happiness is, Rand talks about the physical as well as mental state of
happiness. In her book, The Virtue of Selfishness, she mentions how to gain happiness through
achieving personal values. After briefly reading Snyder's, Handbook of Positive Psychology, I
found that personal goals ultimately derive from our values. This source relates to my topic,
happiness through pursuing personal goals, as Rand specifically focuses on how the state of
happiness can be accomplished through pursuing our values.