Set goals you can commit to
How to craft goals that align with your core motivations.
Ever set a goal you never followed through on?
Do you typically know what drives you when you set a goal?
Do you usually consider what you’re willing to trade off before committing?
✳️✳️✳️
Many people set goals, hoping to improve some aspect of their lives. This is especially common around the New Year, when resolutions are made. A goal is a specific result people aim to achieve within a set time frame. It often reflects a desire for change, whether external, like earning a degree or developing an exercise habit, or internal, like building confidence or finding more balance in life.
Goals should reflect what’s important to you, not what others expect you to pursue. This doesn’t mean caring only about yourself. It means choosing goals that align with your purpose and values and help you create the life you want. Goals should also be clear and provide a sense of direction. Many people don’t reach their goals because the goals aren’t specific enough, they don’t clearly understand why the goals matter, or they lack the motivation to make the necessary changes.
Setting goals matters because they give you direction, focus your attention, motivate action, help you plan and track progress, and boost your confidence. Potential pitfalls include setting the wrong goal, lacking clarity on why you want it, setting unrealistic goals, focusing solely on outcomes, linking happiness to goals, becoming overly rigid, and neglecting other areas of life. See Appendix A for more details.
A goal is like the North Star, guiding your direction and helping you navigate to stay on course.
Behaviors can be goals, but they’re not the same as outcome goals. Goals are the outcomes you want to achieve, while behaviors are the actions you take to get there. For example, losing 20 pounds is an outcome goal, while eating 500 fewer calories each day or exercising for 30 minutes are behaviors that help you reach it. Behaviors can also be goals in themselves. If your aim is to build a habit, like exercising daily for a month, the behavior becomes the target you’re working toward. Be clear whether your goal is an outcome you want or a behavior you want to practice, so you know exactly what you’re working to achieve.
Following the steps outlined below can greatly improve your chances of reaching your goals. It comes down to a few simple questions: What is my goal? Why does it matter to me? Is there a better goal? What am I willing and able to give up to achieve it?
How to set goals you can commit to
To reach a goal, start by getting clear on what you want to achieve. Capture your goal, uncover what motivates you, choose the goal that best aligns with that motivation, clarify it, and decide whether you’re willing to commit. Here’s how to set a goal you can commit to:
1️⃣ Capture your goal
Write down exactly what you want to achieve, focusing on what you want (approach goals) rather than what you don’t want (avoidance goals). A simple format:
I want to [what you want to achieve].
For details, see: Capture your goal
2️⃣ Uncover what motivates your goal
Now explore what’s driving your goal. Why do you want this outcome? What will it bring you? Keep asking “why” until you uncover your core motivation, a value or need that feels true to who you are. Record it with your goal:
I want to [what you want to achieve] because [your core motivation].
For details, see: Uncover what motivates your goal
3️⃣ Seek the best goal to meet your motivation
Don’t settle for the first goal that comes to mind. Brainstorm multiple ways to satisfy your core motivation. Seek inspiration, consult others, and try small experiments. Evaluate how each option fits with your daily life, strengths, and resources. Choose the goal that best aligns with your motivation and record it:
I want to [what you want to achieve] because [your core motivation].
For details, see: Seek the best goal to meet your motivation
4️⃣ Get clear on your goal
Refine your goal to make it SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. A well-defined goal gives you direction and helps you focus on what matters. Record your clarified goal like this:
I want to [what you want to achieve] [how much/frequency] by [time period].
For details, see: Get clear on your goal
5️⃣ Decide if you are willing to commit
Every goal requires time and sometimes money. Consider the sacrifices required and be honest about what you’re willing to give up. Recognize the physical, emotional, or practical challenges you may face. Once you understand the cost and your level of commitment, decide if this is a goal you want to pursue.
For details, see: Decide if you are willing to commit
By following these steps, you will create a clear goal connected to what matters to you. Achieving goals takes time and effort, so be patient and stay focused. If necessary, revisit your goal, adjust it, or explore other options. Keep your core motivation in mind and stay committed to meeting it.
Additional tips
👉 Practice self-awareness. Know your strengths and weaknesses when setting goals. This helps you create realistic, meaningful targets that fit you.
👉 Write it down. Record your goals, related motivations and your answers to key questions. Writing them makes your commitment feel tangible and committed.
👉 Involve others for support. Share your goals with friends, family, or support groups. Support from others, especially those you live with, creates encouragement and accountability, making it easier to stay motivated.
👉 Be mindful of your emotions. Notice how you feel when thinking about different goals. Choose goals that make you feel positive and excited.
👉 Consider your well-being. Choose goals that support a healthy balance in your life, not just achievement.
👉 Be patient: Setting meaningful goals takes time. Allow yourself to explore and adjust your goals as needed.
🎉👏🎈
Setting goals you can commit to means understanding what you want to achieve and why it matters. By clarifying your goal and motivation, you set yourself up for greater success. Once your goal is set, consider the type of person you need to become and create a plan that prepares you for potential obstacles. Embrace the journey and keep your motivations in mind as you work toward what matters.
References
Goal Setting: A Scientific Guide to Setting and Achieving Goals, by James Clear
Appendix A – The benefits and potential pitfalls of setting goals
Benefits
Setting goals matters because they define what you want to achieve. When you know the result you’re aiming for, it’s easier to stay focused, motivated, and on track.
👉 Goals give you direction. Without goals, you can drift aimlessly through life. It’s like sailing under a clouded sky, with no compass to guide you. You don’t know which way to go or how to stay on course. A goal focuses your efforts until you reach it or set a new one.
👉 Goals focus your attention. Specific goals help you concentrate on what matters most. They guide your efforts and keep distractions at bay, making it easier to use your time and energy on what counts.
👉 Goals motivate action. Clear goals make you more likely to take action. They give you a reason to start and the drive to keep going, even when things get tough.
👉 Goals help you plan and track progress. Goals provide a framework for planning your steps and breaking them into smaller tasks. This makes it easier to monitor your progress and make adjustments when needed to stay on course.
👉 Goals can boost confidence. Achieving goals, even small ones, builds your confidence. Each success reinforces your belief in your abilities, making you more likely to take on bigger challenges in the future.
Potential pitfalls
Setting goals can be beneficial, but there are potential pitfalls to watch for. Here are some common challenges:
👉 Setting the wrong goal. It’s important to choose the right goal, so you don’t waste time on the wrong one. People can spend years chasing goals that don’t align with their interests, such as pursuing a career their parents want. Others may go after goals that conflict with their values. Some work for years to land a high-paying job, only to feel burned out and unfulfilled by the stress and long hours.
👉 Lacking clarity on why you want the goal. Understanding why you want a goal is crucial for staying motivated. If your reasons aren’t clear or personally meaningful, it’s easy to lose focus or give up when challenges arise. Make sure the goal matters to you to maintain motivation throughout the process.
👉 Setting unrealistic goals. Goals that are too ambitious can lead to frustration and disappointment. This often happens when your expectations don’t match the reality of what it takes to reach them. Make sure your goals are achievable to stay motivated and avoid burnout.
👉 Focusing solely on outcomes. When you focus only on the end result, you can overlook the value of the process. Make the journey enjoyable and celebrate small successes along the way. Engaging with each step brings personal growth and makes the experience more fulfilling.
👉 Linking happiness to goals. Many people believe they will be happy only after achieving their next goal. Focusing solely on future outcomes can make you miss the joy of the present, creating a cycle of constantly chasing the next goal without ever feeling satisfied.
👉 Becoming overly rigid. Having fixed goals can make you inflexible. Life is unpredictable, so it’s important to adjust your goals when circumstances change or new opportunities arise.
👉 Neglecting other areas of life. Focusing too much on one goal can lead you to overlook other important parts of life, such as relationships, health, and personal well-being.
Being aware of these pitfalls can help you set more effective goals and handle the challenges that come with pursuing them.
