Definition
Goal setting is the act of converting a desired future state into a specific, written, measurable target — a target concrete enough that you can tell from your behaviour today whether it is being approached or not. In Parrish's framing, goals are the bridge between the long-term horizon (where wellbeing lives) and the short-term actions (where defaults dominate).
It is not the same as ambition. Ambition without specificity drifts; goals without ambition under-aim. A useful goal pairs an ambitious endpoint with a specific path you can audit.
The distinction worth marking: a written goal is structurally different from a remembered one. The act of writing forces clarity that intention alone never produces.
Why it matters
What makes a good goal
Parrish's framing borrows from the standard literature but emphasises three less-common qualities. Process-anchored: a goal that names what you will do (write 500 words a day) is more useful than one that names what you will get (publish a book), because the first is in your control and the second is not. Time-bound: a horizon converts a wish into a plan. Reviewable: the goal must be specific enough that a future you can score the current you against it.
The closing move is to align goals with wellbeing rather than against it. A goal that, achieved, would damage health, relationships, or meaning is usually the wrong goal even if the arrival looks impressive.