The kind of personal goals you set may play a large role in whether you are prone to emotional or physical distress, according to a new study by Robert Emmons, an associate professor of psychology at UC Davis. In his study, Emmons found that people with "high-level" strivings experienced more psychological distress, while those with "low-level" strivings experienced more physical illness. High-level strivings are described as being abstract and reflective, involving self-scrutiny, and engaging moods, motives and thoughts. Low-level strivings, in contrast, are more behavioral, concrete and specific, and less self-reflective. For example, Emmons says, a person with high-level strivings might have a goal of "getting closer to God" or "exploring my religious beliefs," whereas someone with low-level strivings might set a goal to "go to church every Sunday" or "say 10 Hail Marys." High-level strivers may experience more psychological distress because it is difficult to monitor progress toward abstract goals. Since these individuals tend to be self-reflective, they think more about their goals and are forced to acknowledge their shortcomings. Low-level strivers, on the other hand, appear to share traits in common with repressive individuals who, when confronting their innermost aspirations, are likely to find that prospect threatening, and identify less revealing and more superficial goals instead. However, this process of denial and avoidance may produce a chronic state of distress that studies have linked to various psychosomatic illnesses, according to Emmons.