COMMON LIFE GOALS

Every human being has needs that they are trying to meet and a value system in
which they are trying to meet those needs. When we are out of balance we try to
meet our needs in unhealthy ways, the goal is to identify our needs and try to meet
them in the healthiest way possible. There are 10 Common Life Goals (needs); most
people identify 6-8 Common Life Goals that are most important to their feeling
fulfilled in life. Secondary Goods are what the Common Life Goals looks like in
everyday life. Many times at the time of offending there is an absence of a Common
Life Goal that is important to someone.

1. Life: Living and Surviving

a. Definition: Healthy living and functioning, trying to meet basic needs
(clothes, housing/shelter, food, medical care, and employment)
b. Secondary Goods: Acquiring income to meet basic needs, Physical activity,
Healthy nutrition, Healthcare, Physical survival. Hoarding, Excessive
exercising, Controlled eating, Worry associated with basic needs.

2. Knowledge: Learning and Knowing

a. Definition: Desire for information and understanding about oneself and the
world.
b. Secondary Goods: Attending school, training, vocational courses; Self-Study,
informal educational activities; Attending treatment and self-help activities.
There may have been an absence of learning/knowledge at time of
offending.

3. Being Good at Play and Work

a. Definition: Mastery in work and leisure (hobbies, activities, sports, etc.)
b. Secondary Goods: Participation in sports, leisure/recreational activities,
hobbies; Participates in in training, certification, and apprenticeships to
advance career; Workaholic.

4. Personal Choice and Independence

a. Definition: Desire for independence, autonomy (self-sufficiency), and choice.
Desire to formulate own goals.
b. Secondary Goods: Formulates and implements plans to achieve a specific
end or objective; Engages in activities to ensure self-sufficiency; Asserts self
and needs with others, communicates needs to others; Controls, dominates,
abuses or manipulates others in order to establish personal control;
Hostile/dangerous world schema (perception about the world).

5. Peace of Mind
a. Definition: Emotion regulation, emotional equilibrium (balance, stability).
Freedom from emotional turmoil and stress.
b. Secondary Goods: Strategies to minimize emotional distress/achieve
stability; Specific activities to achieve emotional stability (e.g. work, exercise,
meditation); Strategies to manage impulsivity; Substance use to regulate
mood/cope with emotional stimuli/events; Sexual activity to regulate
 mood/cope with emotional stimuli/events (Sex as Coping, Poor Coping
skills)

6. Relationships and Friendships

a. Definition: Desire to establish bonds with others. Intimate, romantic, family
relationships. Importance about friendships.
b. Secondary Goods: Engages in social or other activities that facilitate meeting
new people and maintaining relationships; Spends time with friends; Gives
and receives support (emotional, practical); Intimate relationships; May
have had many romantic relationships; May experience loneliness and a
longing to be accepted.

7. Community: Being Part of a Group

a. Definition: Desire to be connected to similar social groups.
b. Secondary Goods: Participates in community activities (e.g., social service
groups, special interest groups); Participates in volunteer activities, groups;
Membership in groups sharing common interests, values, concerns (e.g.,
Masons, Shriners, VA club, gangs, etc.); Provides practical assistance to
others in times of need (e.g., neighbors).

8. Spirituality: Having Meaning in Life

a. Definition: Desire for meaning and purpose in life. Sense that you are part of
a larger whole.
b. Secondary Goods: Attends formal religious/spiritual events (e.g., church,
sweat lodge, etc.); Participates in activities such as meditation/prayer;
Involved in spiritual community/group (more than to have community);
Studies/reads spiritual materials.

9. Happiness
a. Definition: State of being of overall experience of contentedness in one’s life.
Desire for pleasure.
b. Secondary Goods: Activities that result in sense of satisfaction, contentment,
fulfillment; Activities that result in sense of pleasure (e.g., leisure activities,
sports, sex, thrill seeking); Activities intended to achieve sense of purpose,
direction in life (e.g., work, friendships, family); Attends treatment, self-help
activities; Interpersonal relationships conducive to life satisfaction.

10. Creativity
a. Desire for novelty or innovation
b. Secondary Goods: Engages in new/novel experiences that has not attempted
previously; Engages in artistic, creative activities; Desire/need for novel
sexual practices.