WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD GOALS?

As someone that has been in the corporate world for most of my career, every quarter we have a discussion on goals. have we met them? What percentage are we achieving these goals? Of course, our pay is tied to these goals.  Well, let me tell you, it gets to a point that everyone is going “UGHHH, this again?”  Now, I know that the company must have a means of reviewing performance, I get that. However, it seems that the word GOALS has become a “dirty word”.  I do understand this in the professional realm but with personal goals, we need to keep an open mind and not put too much pressure on ourselves.  In researching this further, I found a few reasons why personal goals have taken on a negative theme:

1. Pressure and Perfectionism:  Setting rigid, outcome-focused goals can lead to excessive pressure and perfectionism.  If we set the bar too high, we risk feeling like a failure if we fall short and this can lead to detrimental effects on our mental health. 
2. Loss of Enjoyment:  When the primary focus is on achieving a goal, we often lose sight of the present moment and the joy in the process.  
3. Comparison Culture:  Social media and the constant sharing of successes have fueled a culture of comparison.  When we see others achieving their goals, it’s easy to feel inadequate and get discouraged if we are not on the same track.  
4. Lack of Adaptability:  Goals can be inflexible, making it challenging to adapt to changing circumstances or new opportunities.  Sometimes, the best path forward may deviate from the one initially envisioned.  

Therefore, we need to reframe these personal goals.  Instead of abandoning our personal goals altogether, it’s time to reframe our approach and regain a healthy perspective on goal-setting.  Here are some ideas for reframing:

1. Focus on the process:  Shift your attention from the end result to the actions and habits that will get you there.  Yes, I am stressing habits here because without habit change you will not get anywhere!  Embrace the journey and find fulfillment in the daily effort. 
2. Set intentional Goals: Ask yourself what truly matters to you.  Then, craft goals that align with your values and passions, making them more meaningful and less driven by external pressures. 
3. Embrace Flexibility:  Recognize that life is unpredictable.  Be open to adapting your goals as circumstances change because this WILL happen.  Life gets messy, view detours as opportunities for growth. 
4. Practice Self-Compassion:  Be kind to yourself when a setback occurs.  Understand that setbacks are a natural part of any journey and a reflection of your worth. 
5. Celebrate Progress:  Don’t wait until you have achieved the final goal to celebrate.  Celebrate your progress and small steps and achievements along the way, no matter how small they are.  

As a life and health coach, we will talk a lot about goals, both personal and professional and incorporate habit change. I hope that you will keep all of this in mind when these conversations come up and you do not go UGHHHH, this again and hopefully, we can make this a positive experience, not a negative one.  

Please contact me if you are having trouble meeting these goals and want help with changing those habits or just want to have a conversation to discuss all of this.  I am happy to help!