How to Create Meaningful Goals

by | Jul 16, 2020

Learn how to create meaningful goals for your personal life, career, or family.

When creating goals, we want to make sure that we set ourselves up for success. To do so, we should ensure that our goals are concrete and measurable, include an accountability plan, and that they are meaningful for us.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” –Pablo Picasso

Concrete & Measurable

Goals should be specific so that we can look back on them and evaluate our progress periodically. We want to make sure that they specifically express how to measure our progress. For example, simply saying that you want to drink more water is vague. Saying you want to drink 8 glasses (8 oz) of water each day is more specific and measurable.

Read on for more ways to create meaningful goals.

Curious what coaching can do for you?

Schedule your free 30 minute discovery session to find out if coaching is right for you. 

More strategies for creating meaningful goals

Accountability

We should hold ourselves accountable for completing our goals and find supportive people to help us reach them. Post your goals somewhere visible. Share them with a friend or family member. Take steps to make sure that you have multiple streams of accountability.

“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Make your goals meaningful

Making sure that your goals have meaning to you and reflect your core values will help increase your intrinsic motivation, which is the most effective type of motivation. Intrinsic motivation means working towards a goal because you want to, not because you have to. You’re typically intrinsically motivated in a goal if you find it interesting, fun, or if it leads to something you value.

Achieving our goals is possible with a good plan that’s specific, measurable, and meaningful to us. And having a good support system like a friend, a family member, or a professional can help keep us accountable so we cross the finish line. For more help with achieving your goals, read my blog post on perseverance or check out my self-paced course on Goal Setting.

And for the month of July, I’m running a special promotion. For only $99, you’ll get my How to Set Goals and Keep Them course PLUS a bonus 1-1 coaching session with me ($230 value). To sign up, email me drkim@drkimcorson.com. And don’t forget it’s only for July!

What kind of high-achiever are you? Take the quiz to find out!

High Achievers can be broken down into different archetypes, each with their own strengths and vulnerabilities. Find out your High Achiever archetype and which coaching program might be the most beneficial for you!

Recent Posts

The Ventral Vagal System

The Ventral Vagal System

The ventral vagus helps us to feel connected, safe, and able to access our prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that can think clearly and make decisions)

The Dorsal Vagal System

The Dorsal Vagal System

The dorsal vagus is a nerve that is common in all mammals. Normally, it's helpful in regulating between your arousal and relaxation. When stress is unrelenting, however, the dorsal vagus kicks ...

The Sympathetic System

The Sympathetic System

The sympathetic nervous system has a bad rep, but we really do need it. Think of it as the system that helps move you to action.

The Vagus Nerve and Stress

The Vagus Nerve and Stress

It's a fallacy to think we can stay in regulation all the time. Life is a series of ups and downs. Normalcy is moving between all of these states and the first step is knowing how our vagus ...

The Power of Small Things

The Power of Small Things

It can be easy to feel like we aren't being productive or successful, but it's important to take stock of the small wins in our lives.

Dr. Kimcast Episode: Holiday Help for Highly Sensitive People with Dr. Desiree Howell

Dr. Kimcast Episode: Holiday Help for Highly Sensitive People with Dr. Desiree Howell

It's the hubbub of the holidays, and for some highly sensitive people, it can lead to burnout. In this episode, we chat with Dr. Desiree Howell about how to navigate the holidays as a Highly ...

Dr. Kimcast Episode: Caring for Caregivers with Dr. Beverly Zavaleta

Dr. Kimcast Episode: Caring for Caregivers with Dr. Beverly Zavaleta

In this episode, we chat with Beverly A. Zavaleta, MD, a board-certified family physician, cancer survivor and long-time advocate of patient education. She's also the author of the best-selling ...

Dr. Kimcast Episode 25: Paranerds–A Conversation with Big Seance’s Patrick Keller

Dr. Kimcast Episode 25: Paranerds–A Conversation with Big Seance’s Patrick Keller

Patrick Keller is an educator, speaker, and the host of the Big Séance Podcast, which is a forum for “paranerds” to have an open dialogue about all things paranormal. In this episode, we chat ...