If you’re a high achiever, goal setting may be one of your favorite pastimes. You enjoy daydreaming about what’s possible and you relish any opportunity to test your limits. Nothing is more satisfying than downloading a decorative goal setting sheet from Etsy, filling it out with your fancy markers, and hanging it on your fridge. Bonus points if you laminate it.

Sound familiar?

While the ability to set and achieve goals is a strength, goal setting can easily veer into meaningless box checking.  In other words, achieving just for the sake of achieving.

 Next time the allure of a certification course, marathon, or volunteer opportunity is dangling in front of you, take a pause and try the following exercise to ensure that your goals are intentional and meaningful.

Grab a journal and respond to these prompts

1) Why does this goal matter to me? Does it align with my values? Is it a step toward a larger dream? Am I primarily motivated to work toward this goal to please someone else? Am I considering pursuing this because I think I “should,” or because it really feels meaningful for me? Dig deep and be honest with yourself here. The bigger the goal, the more you need to really think about why it’s worth the effort.

2) What, specifically, will it take to work toward this goal? What will I have to change or sacrifice in my life to have the time, energy, and/or money to pursue this? Do I want to make these sacrifces or changes?

3) When I think about the reality of what it will take to achieve my goal, how do I feel? Again, be honest with yourself. Do you feel excited and energized? Are you ready to throw yourself into the work, or do you already feel stressed and bogged down just thinking about it?

I’ll leave you with a quote attributed to Thomas Merton – “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.”

Interested in setting and working toward meaningful goals with the support of a therapist? I specialize in helping high-performing adults lean into meaningful, values driven-lives. Schedule a free consultation to see if we are a good match.

This blog post isn’t intended as professional counseling or clinical advice. If you’re in need of support, please consider speaking to a professional to be evaluated.