Setting and Achieving Goals by Drew Johnson, LISW

• As we create our goals, we should evaluate what matters to us. Are we focused on improving our relationships with family members, friends, or coworkers? Are we more interested in better physical health (including exercise and diet)? Are we driven to better our careers, achieve life goals, knock items off of our bucket list?


• An important component to keep in mind is making sure our goals are achievable. Being mindful of this will make a big difference. There is no use in setting our goals so high that they are impossible to achieve, often resulting in guilt and frustration with ourselves. As much as we would all like to win the lottery, basing our goals on a long shot is just going to cause heartache.


• A helpful strategy is to set smaller goals along the way to achieving your larger goals. For example, start by gradually improving your diet, removing certain things from your diet, or gradually increasing the frequency you attend the gym. Achieving these smaller goals will improve your confidence and enable a greater chance of success on the overall goals.


• Don’t lose faith and confidence if you stumble along the way. Often, great success comes first from failure or disappointment. Enjoy the journey, and don’t be afraid to push yourself to meet those goals. You may surprise yourself how much you can accomplish!