Goal Setting in 2025
A new year has come to pass and we find ourselves knee-deep in the season of goals and resolutions. Who among us can honestly say they have never set a lofty goal that they were unable to meet? When this happens we may experience negative self-talk, feeling discouraged, or find ourselves in a shame spiral; and, perhaps you feel even less motivated to pursue change than before. If this rings true for you, read on dear ones.
Philosopher Archilochus said, “You do not rise to the level of your expectations, you fall to the level of your training,” and James Clear, in his work on goal achievement and habit formation adapted the statement to “You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.” The problem is not that goals are set too high, rather the process to reach them is often vague, ill-situated, or poorly planned. Check out this clip of an interview with Clear on goals and habits.
The changes we seek to make in life inherently cost something whether it be time, resources, energy, restraint, letting go of old patterns of thought, refusing to engage in binding behaviors… When preparing to set goals, it is wise to examine the habits you currently employ, and honestly assess which ones are benefiting you and which habits may be barriers to the changes you desire to see in your life. Habits are the building blocks upon which we reach our goals. Small adjustments to our routine or daily habits can yield astonishing change over time. “Time will magnify what you feed it.” (Clear, 2018)
You may be familiar with SMART goals, which were developed in 1981 by George T. Doran, a former director of corporate planning for Washington Water and Power Company. Doran formulated a criteria for setting and accomplishing goals to assist people and organizations, and his model has become a widely used and effective tool for achieving personal or professional objectives. Next time you find yourself setting a goal, or perhaps reevaluating the goals you have already set, try running it through the SMART acronym:
Specific: What you want to accomplish needs to be specified. Some helpful questions to ask yourself are: What? Why? Who (needs to be involved)? Where?
Measurable: Goals become tangible when you measure progress. (Progress is a great motivator!) What are the metrics by which you will measure progress? And how often?
Achievable: Do you have the attitude, skills, or tools you need to accomplish your goal? If not presently, how can you acquire them?
Relevant: The goal you want to achieve must make sense for your life and be aligned with your values and broader life objectives.
Time-bound: Establishing a time constraint creates a sense of urgency around the goal and can provide motivation. Especially with long term goals, it is beneficial to break it down with check-ins on what ought to be achieved at the halfway point, or periodically throughout the process.
Remember, your goals should be tailored to yourself, and the nuances of your life and environment. Keep your goals high and break down the process to achieve them. Allow yourself to reinforce the motivation you experience by intentionally noticing the evidence of progress you have achieved through small and continual change to your daily habits. You got this!
If you’d like to read more about goals check out the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.
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