Why is Goal Setting so Hard?
Posted on May 08, 2023 by Reem Al-Abdullatif, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Three common mistakes to look out for when reviewing or setting new goals.
Many of my clients, close friends, and family members have struggled with setting personal and career goals. I’ve found that there are three common traps people fall into when goal setting. The next time you sit down to write or review your goals, here’s what to look out for:
1. Know the difference between your own goals and other people’s expectations of you. Ask yourself “who is this for?”, and if the answer isn’t a loud and resounding “it’s for me!” then this isn’t a goal. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. We all have responsibilities and obligations – things we do for our family, spouses, children, even our bosses. But goals are personal. So set aside time to dig deep and ask yourself “what really matters to me? what do I want?”.
2. You don’t have to set hard goals, your goal could capture an inspiration or a feeling. Personal goals, including career goals, are personal to you and they don’t have to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Your goal can be a vision, an inspiration, a mantra, or even a feeling. As long as it resonates with you, and you know how to identify it.
3. Your goal can be the journey itself, and not the destination. To me, this distinction makes all the difference. It allows me to be in a continuous state of happiness and feeling inspired, rather than chasing after something, or running towards a finish line. Think of it this way; you’re not done living your life just because you’ve accomplished something. So why not write goals about how you want to live your life, and let the accomplishments come as a consequence?
I hope this inspired to you to write goals that deeply resonate with you and move you towards your achieving your dreams!
