History Main / GoalInLife

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* As he [[LargeHam loudly proclaims]] [[CatchPhrase many times]] in the series, [[Manga/OnePiece Monkey D. Luffy]]'s goal is to become the Pirate King.
* A major point in the second OVA of ''Anime/SoundOfTheSky'' where Kanata asks just about every major character what their dreams and goals, all while attempting to figure out what her own is.

* Following one's dreams is a major topic in the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' franchise. With the main characters' dream being to create a future where all children are free to dream without exception. Also, most villains have rather sympathetic goals but their methods always impose upon others' dreams--usually because of external circumstances preventing them from achieving their dreams more peacefully. The eponymous character's patent solution to clearing these obstacles? [[MoreDakka Firepower. Lots and lots of firepower.]]

* ''Manga/SangatsuNoLion'' plays with this concept immensely. In his back-story, Rei pushed himself hard in order to become a professional shogi player as early as possible. He succeeded by the time of the actual start of the story, and because of this, most believe he's already had his goal in life set and achieved since he was young. However, flashback chapters reveal ulterior motives in forcing himself to make such a significant lifestyle decision, and there are a few claims in both the narrative and dialogue that he does not even like the game itself as much as he probably should, despite his skills and scenes suggesting otherwise. His ambiguous feelings for the very game he's trying to build a livelihood on is one of the main focuses, leaving to question whether or not Rei has unconsciously developed, or will develop, a liking and sincere life goal in the game on his own terms despite his rather dubious initial intentions.
* ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'': Griffith's goal in life--his "dream"--is to become the ruler of his own kingdom. One of his primary character traits is that he'll sacrifice ''anything'' to achieve that dream--and given ''Berserk'''s [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism highly cynical bent]], that leads him to do some [[MoralEventHorizon truly horrific things]].

[[folder:Fanfic]]
* Erwin and Hange in ''Fanfic/PassionatePragmatism'' want to [[ForHappiness maximize happiness]] for humanity.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* The Vorlon and Shadow Questions in ''Series/BabylonFive'' are all about this. The Vorlons ask "Who are you?" to understand what someone already has and what parts of their past and present define their present outlook (and thus how they can '[[KnightTemplar nurture you]]' to their liking). The Shadows ask "What do you want?" as a way to understand someone's future ambitions, motivations and goals (and thus how they can "[[EvilMentor help you along]]").
* Mocked in ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody''. Carey asks Lance, [[FlatCharacter whose total personality is based on being the lifeguard]], what his goal in life is. He wants to [[TheDitz grow a dorsal fin and gills]].

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* Marla in ''ComicStrip/{{Retail}}'' has one goal in life: finally get out of Grumbel's and start her ''own'' business. However, things keep coming up that force her to delay her goals: the recession, getting pregnant, getting promoted to store manager (and the responsibility that comes with it). The longer she put it off, the more she wonders if she really wants to do it anymore. She eventually confesses to Val that her goal's no longer feasible: it's become too big a risk for her to leave Grumbel's since she has a mortgage, her family needs her health insurance, and she had to think of her daughter's future.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Homer Simpson has had frequent "lifelong dreams" parodying the concept (such as rushing onto the field during a baseball game), the played straight-est version being when he revealed he's always wanted to own the Dallas Cowboys. He gets started on the road towards Cowboy ownership buy (a) buying Tom Landry's CoolHat from a collectible store and (b) being given the Denver Broncos by a SuperVillain he briefly worked for. Homer wasn't happy about (b), though, since the Broncos were the laughing stock of the NFL at the time, a far cry from the then-dominant Cowboys.
** Everytime, Marge points out Homer already had a lifelong dream, which he has already achieved.

* Marla in ''ComicStrip/{{Retail}}'' has one goal in life: finally get out of Grumbel's and start her ''own'' business. However, things keep coming up that force her to delay her goals: the recession, getting pregnant, getting promoted to store manager (and the responsibility that comes with it). It's to the point where Marla can't realistically make an attempt at starting her own business until 2018, and at this point she's not sure she wants to anymore. She eventually confesses to Val that her goal's no longer feasible: it's more important to support her daughter's dreams (and have health insurance for her).

* In ''Series/MyNameIsearl'', Earl's goal (and the focus of the series) is to make amends for every bad thing he has done in his life.

* Marla in ''ComicStrip/{{Retail}}'' has one goal in life: finally get out of Grumbel's and start her ''own'' business. However, things keep coming up that force her to delay her goals: the recession, getting pregnant, getting promoted to store manager (and the responsibility that comes with it). It's to the point where Marla can't realistically make an attempt at starting her own business until 2018, and at this point she's not sure she wants to anymore.

* As he [[LargeHam loudly proclaims]] [[CatchPhrase many times]] during the series, [[Manga/OnePiece Monkey D. Luffy]]'s goal is to become the Pirate King.

* The titular character ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' dreams of become Hokage, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, and gaining the respect of this people after a childhood of neglect and loneliness.

** Rarity's is to be one of the top fashion designers in Equestria. It's being accomplished, slowly, throughout the show with her opening a boutique in Canterlot being the most recent step in that direction.
** Rainbow Dash's is to become a Wonderbolt (The Equestrian equivalent of the Blue Angels). Right now she's an auxillary Wonderbolt, one step away from reaching her goal in life.
** Fluttershy's is only revealed in season seven: to create an animal sanctuary. She accomplishes this in the episode where we learn of it, after some hard knocks.

** Rarity's is to be one of the top fashion designers in Equestria. It's being accomplished, slowly, throughout the show with her opening a boutique in Canterlot.

* In the universe of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', every young pony dreams of finding their true calling. Once they've found it, an apparently permanent mark appears on their flank, indicating their lifelong destiny.[[note]]It's never mentioned what happens to those who reconsider their goal...[[/note]]
** It's technically a special talent rather than a true life goal. For example, Rarity's goal in life is to make dresses. Her special talent is mining and finding expensive gems, so she just bedazzles all her dresses.

* [[TheCasanova Graz'zt]] of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' fame has, [[MagnificentBastard understandably]], countless goals in his immortal, infernal life. His true Goal in Life drives all other goals and all other plans, including his eternal war against [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Demogorgon and Orcus]] for the role of Prince of Demons and his [[HellOnEarth plan to absorb a Material Plane world into the Abyss]]. This goal is to unite all the Lower Planes (not just the Abyss) to create a near-impossible army of fiends that he would lead to [[RageAgainstTheHeavens tear down the Upper Planes into multiversal dust in the most glorious blood bath ever to grace reality]]. Which is quite {{Badass}}, if you think about it.

* ''{{Buffyverse}}'':

* Yuuko has occasionally struggled with this in ''Manga/{{Nichijou}}''.

!'''Examples'''

* Yuuko has occasionally struggled with this in ''{{Nichijou}}''.
* Following one's dreams is a major topic in the ''LyricalNanoha'' franchise. With the main characters' dream being to create a future where all children are free to dream without exception. Also, most villains have rather sympathetic goals but their methods always impose upon others' dreams--usually because of external circumstances preventing them from achieving their dreams more peacefully. The eponymous character's patent solution to clearing these obstacles? [[MoreDakka Firepower. Lots and lots of firepower.]]

* [[TheSimpsons Homer Simpson]] has had frequent "lifelong dreams" parodying the concept (such as rushing onto the field during a baseball game), the played straight-est version being when he revealed he's always wanted to own the Dallas Cowboys. He gets started on the road towards Cowboy ownership buy (a) buying Tom Landry's CoolHat from a collectible store and (b) being given the Denver Broncos by a SuperVillain he briefly worked for. Homer wasn't happy about (b), though, since the Broncos were the laughing stock of the NFL at the time, a far cry from the then-dominant Cowboys.

Someone who forgets his Goal in Life has suffered MotiveDecay. The MotivationIndex has a few life long goals that a person's Goal in Life may be expressed through, although not all would qualify, especially if it's not specific enough or too short term. See the related SeriesGoal for the goal of the work in question, instead of an individual character's goal. DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife is for those whose Goal in Life is to ''find'' a [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Goal in Life]].

* A major point in the second OVA of ''SoRaNoWoTo'' where Kanata asks just about every major character what their dreams and goals, all while attempting to figure out what her own is.

They've found a GoalInLife.

Someone who forgets his GoalInLife has suffered MotiveDecay. The MotivationIndex has a few life long goals that a person's GoalInLife may be expressed through, although not all would qualify, especially if it's not specific enough or too short term. See the related SeriesGoal for the goal of the work in question, instead of an individual character's goal. DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife is for those whose Goal In Life is to ''find'' a Goal In Life.

[[folder:Anime and Manga ]]

* After ten episodes [[spoiler:and several GroundhogDayLoop]] DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife, the eponymous ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' finally find a GoalInLife, [[spoiler:'''SAVING REALITY ITSELF!''']] [[note]]She does so by turning herself into a cosmic law.[[/note]]. Since the universe is potentially without end, it's probably the ultimate job security.

* [[TheCasanova Graz'zt]] of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' fame has, [[MagnificentBastard understandably]], countless goals in his immortal, infernal life. His true GoalInLife drives all other goals and all other plans, including his eternal war against [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Demogorgon and Orcus]] for the role of Prince of Demons and his [[HellOnEarth plan to absorb a Material Plane world into the Abyss]]. This goal is to unite all the Lower Planes (not just the Abyss) to create a near-impossible army of fiends that he would lead to [[RageAgainstTheHeavens tear down the Upper Planes into multiversal dust in the most glorious blood bath ever to grace reality]]. Which is quite {{Badass}}, if you think about it.

** In case you don't have a GoalInLife, [[ShmuckBait you can always turn to the Yozis]], [[BrainwashedAndCrazy they will give you a sufficiently grand Urge that you must follow]]. [[DealWithTheDevil They will even give you the power to do the job!]] Sample Urge: '''[[MemeticMutation GO FUCKING KILL LYTEK]]'''.

Someone who forgets his GoalInLife has suffered MotiveDecay. The MotivationIndex has a few life long goals that a person's GoalInLife may be expressed through, although not all would qualify, especially if it's not specific enough or too short term. See the related SeriesGoal for the goal of the work in question, instead of an individual character's goal. DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife is for those whose GoalInLife is to ''find'' a GoalInLife.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Fanfic ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Visual Novels ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Mr. Bickles from ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' has a different "dream" in every episode.

[[folder: Meta ]]

* A common cliche for [[TheDitz ditzy]] beauty queen type characters is "um, world peace, [[AnnoyingLaugh tee hee]]".

[[/folder]]