What term describes a deep longing that drives people to believe they can achieve their goals?

The term that best encapsulates a deep longing that drives individuals to believe they can achieve their goals is "desire." Desire inherently includes an emotional component that fuels a person's drive toward their aspirations. It represents a heartfelt craving or wish for something that influences one's actions and decisions.

In the context of achieving goals, desire serves as a powerful motivating force. When someone truly desires to accomplish something, it creates a strong internal push that compels them to pursue their objective, often despite challenges or obstacles. This connection between heartfelt longing and goal pursuit is what makes the term particularly fitting for the described concept.

While "aspiration" refers to the hope or ambition of achieving something and might involve desire, it leans more toward the outcome rather than the emotional force behind the pursuit. "Ambition" is often associated with a determined and vigorous pursuit of success, suggesting a more proactive, assertive quality that might not necessarily stem from a deep longing. "Motivation" encompasses both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that drive behavior but is broader in scope than the specific emotional longing that desire illustrates.