It’s been hammered into my head, and probably yours, through multiple business trainings and motivational talks to set goals: measurable, attainable, set terms, and so on. You know the type I’m talking about. Heck, I have conducted trainings on goals like this for my clients for years.
The traditional approach to goal-setting follows the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework is designed to provide clarity and direction, breaking down larger ambitions into smaller, manageable steps. It’s a systematic method that aims to make goals concrete and actionable. If you are anything like me, these parameters slowly make us feel a little ‘less-than’ as the year progresses. Yet the big picture, if I look back at my vision lists from year past (photo of one here that I came across 7 years after writing it), this big picture is well on its way. What is the difference? How can I feel so down about what is seen as lack of accomplishment in the ‘goals department’, and yet see that I am in fact well on my way?!
The Downside of Traditional Goal-Setting
Consequently, what had been missing all these years is the understanding that we don’t have to do things in a strict order, nor do we need to track or grade ourselves and our failure or success rates to see progress. This traditional method can often create a rigid structure that doesn’t account for the fluid and organic nature of real life.
For years, I followed this method diligently. I set my goals, broke them down into actionable steps, and monitored my progress closely. I tracked my achievements and failures, believing that this constant evaluation would keep me on the right path. Ultimately I would alter my goals to match my pace, inspiration and motivation. Still the only result was feeling inferior or like a failure for not doing things as originally planned. Each unmet goal felt like a personal shortcoming, leading to a cycle of self-criticism and frustration.
The Pressure of Perfection
The pressure to achieve specific, measurable outcomes can be overwhelming. When we set rigid goals, we often attach our self-worth to our ability to meet these targets(like I was beginning to). This mindset can lead to stress and anxiety, particularly when life’s unpredictability comes in to play. Instead of feeling motivated and empowered, we might find ourselves stuck in a loop of negative self-assessment. What if we can do both? Kick butt, take names AND feel accomplished… without constant measuring or assessment?
Losing Sight of the Bigger Picture
Really, the traditional goal-setting approach can cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture. We become so focused on ticking off boxes and meeting deadlines that we forget the broader vision that inspired us in the first place. Goals become an end in themselves rather than a means to achieve our deeper aspirations and values. The bigger picture. The vision. You know… that one God put on your heart to literally light a fire inside of you.
The Importance of Flexibility and Compassion
We need flexibility and compassion in our approach to goals. Life is not linear, and progress doesn’t always follow a straight path. By allowing ourselves to deviate from the plan and adapt to changing circumstances, we can reduce the pressure and make the journey itself more enjoyable.
This shift in perspective helps us understand that it’s okay not to meet every goal exactly as planned. It’s okay to take detours and make adjustments along the way. What matters more is our commitment to the overarching vision and the continuous, organic, steps we take towards it.
Living the Dream Every Day
In rethinking goal-setting, we can adopt a more organic approach that balances structure with flexibility. Instead of rigidly adhering to predetermined steps, we can focus on maintaining a clear vision and adapting our actions as needed. We can then be encouraged to celebrate progress, no matter how small, and to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth.
By shifting from a goal-centric mindset to a vision-centric one, we create space for creativity, resilience, manifestation and personal growth. We move away from the idea of grading ourselves based on success or failure and towards a more compassionate and realistic understanding of what it means to make progress. Creating and seeing them as stepping stones, instead of throwing stones. Being present, appreciative and attentive to the stones themselves allows us to truly feel like we are living that goal, plan, step and vision. On a daily basis.
Understanding the Vision Behind Goals
Why do we set goals in the first place? We have a vision of what we are working towards and know that if a goal is accomplished, it can help get us there. The key word here is “help.” A goal is not the whole vision; goals are segments of a vision, areas of focus or growth. Stepping stones.
Our vision represents the big picture, the ultimate destination we aspire to reach. It’s the driving force behind our actions, the reason we get up in the morning and strive to make progress. Dare I say, its our why?! Goals, on the other hand, are the milestones along the way. They are the actionable steps we believe will move us closer to our vision.
Goals as Building Blocks
For instance, if I want to grow my sisterhood, multiple marketing components need to be set in motion to reach that goal. Each component, such as social media campaigns, email marketing, or community events, is a goal that contributes to the larger vision of a thriving membership program. These individual goals are necessary, but they are not the entirety of the vision. AND if I faulter or miss a step I am still in action and I will still be reaching towards my vision. AND I will be rewarded as such by God and the universe.
The Issue of Inspiration
However, there’s the issue of inspiration. What if I get there and don’t want it anymore? Or maybe the process isn’t aligned with how my brain works or what my schedule allows and I divert or avoid. This is a common experience. Or for myself, a couple months into first opening my sisterhood I found myself in postpartum depression I wasn’t expecting to encounter a whole year after birth. After identifying and working through it I was able to look at what I had built and rework, realign and relaunch my vision.
As we pursue our goals, we might find that our initial enthusiasm wanes. The process can be challenging, and sometimes the journey feels more like a chore than a passion. This is where understanding the difference between goals and vision becomes crucial.
One thing I encourage my clients to do is to look for the low hanging fruit, the easy wins along the way that bring those warm fuzzies. Adding and acknowledging those small wins in the flow of this new kind of organic growth and trajectory are like sweet little YESs as we go along.
And don’t forget to TALK about your goals, ambitions and vision along the way with friends and colleagues. Their excitement, celebration and even questions bring clarity and speak life into your vision, outside of yourself. Motivation to keep moving, instead of measuring.
Detaching from the How
Can I still work towards my vision of growing my sisterhood to match the vision in my head and heart? Yes, but I need to detach from the how. The path to achieving our vision is not always straightforward. It’s important to remain flexible and open to different approaches. By detaching from a rigid plan, we allow ourselves to adapt and find new ways to stay aligned with our vision.
Releasing from the how doesn’t mean abandoning discipline or commitment; really, it means trusting in the process and allowing space for divine guidance and happenstance. It’s about embracing faith and flexibility. The vision that God has placed in your heart is your North Star, your guiding light. It provides direction and purpose, but the path to achieving it may not always be clear or linear.
Flexibility in Action
For example, if a particular marketing strategy isn’t yielding the desired results, it’s okay to pivot and try something new. The important thing is not to see this as a failure, but as a natural part of the process. Each experiment, each adjustment, brings us closer to understanding what works and what doesn’t, refining our approach and layering our resilience. Remember you are learning, God is aligning.
Protip: always have another goal. Another step. A series. Another plan. Another part of the whole vision. Seeing a progression of whats next is a great motivator as we take bites towards consuming the whole elephant. “I am doing this, so that I can do this next.” Also remember sometimes its not the order of things, it’s the doing and God puts them in an order you never could have come up with yourself. So keep moving knowing that God truly puts things in order.
Resilience Built on Experience
I call these stepping stones. They are all there to choose from and this is not an Indiana Jones riddle, no step is wrong, no stone is untrustworthy. Each step, each project, each ‘yes’, each ‘no’ is all aligned with your vision. So step confidently and know that God has the master plan and your action will be rewarded. It always works out, you just can’t always see it, you don’t have the whole map, you just have your heart, friend.
Yes, it will be different. Look at your evidence. God has a way of aligning events and experiences in ways that we couldn’t have planned or predicted. Reflecting on these moments can provide a sense of reassurance and faith in the process. By releasing control, we open ourselves up to possibilities that are bigger and better than we could have ever imagined.
Reflecting on Life’s Journey
Have you ever looked back on life and seen the stepping stones, random occurrences, or experiences that are now perfectly aligned and have equipt you to do what you are doing today? That’s what I’m talking about: releasing the control of the goal itself and getting excited for the outcome and where it’s leading you—your vision. (Find gratitude in future outcomes and more in this article)
Staying Aligned with Your Vision
Focus on the vision in your heart and say YES to it, even when the specific goals or the path to achieving them change right before your eyes. This means being willing to reassess and adjust our goals as needed, without losing sight of the larger purpose. Because they are just bites. And you are merely human, friend.
If we become too fixated on the specific steps, we risk becoming disheartened when things don’t go as planned. But by keeping our vision front and center, we can navigate the inevitable twists and turns with resilience and creativity. Allows us to flow into our vision. Every. Single. Day.
Embracing an Organic Perspective
Understanding that goals are bite-sized tools to help us achieve our vision can free us from the pressure of perfection. It allows us to embrace a more organic perspective, where progress is measured not just by the achievement of specific goals, but by our overall alignment with our vision.
This mindset shift encourages us to celebrate each stepping stone, recognizing that every step, even the missteps, contributes to our growth and development. By focusing on the vision and remaining flexible in our approach, we can keep up our motivation and keep moving forward, no matter what challenges we face.
Aligned Action on Off Days
Yet sometimes we have hard days, off days, and days off. Action on those days can look like prayer, meditation, a walk, a massage, or a loooooong shower—anything but the thing we think we should be working towards. These activities may seem unproductive on the surface, but they play a crucial role in maintaining our mental and emotional well-being. This slow, organic, methodical action can yield firm and aligned growth.
Slow Down and Do the Next Right Thing
This makes me think of the concept of slowing down and just doing the next right thing, as Christy Wright teaches in her book Take Back Your Time. In our fast-paced overwhelming world we can get caught up in hustle culture, hashtag content and the ideas of hacking or arbitraging our way through. When really, slowing down, listening to our hearts, and checking in with God through prayer can and will align us to the next right thing. This might mean taking a moment to pause, reflect, and recalibrate our actions to ensure they are in line with our vision and values. And, yes, you can abandon a goal! Yes, you can redefine a goal. Yes, you can, friend. Because there are no rules… only the ones you make.
The Bigger and Better Picture
Releasing control allows us to enjoy the journey and appreciate the growth and learning that occur along the way. It’s about trusting that every step, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is part of a larger, divinely mapped plan. This perspective shift will change our approach to action, making it less about checking off tasks and more about staying aligned with our vision and values. Slow and organic will win this race, friend.
The Plan. The Playbook.
Before writing this ‘conclusion’ I took that looooong shower I recommended earlier. Know that your vision is big. It’s yours and it’s powerful. And it’s ok if you lose the perfect words when you turn the water off… because these words will still do the trick. Again, God, the universe and science reward action. Aligned organic action, free from the construct of conventional goal setting can AND WILL get you to your vision. On. A. Daily. Basis.
Over the years I have found a few things that help me stay on track, pieced together from books, retreats, workshops and webinars. My only requirement is that they don’t create unnecessary pressure or stress in my life when implemented. Remember: slow, aligned, organic action is what creates a firm foundation for the full realization of your vision. Pray. Write affirmations. Keep a short list of daily non-negotiables(I expand on these lists here). Do the next right thing. Keep inspiration or inspired words close, aka notes. Keep relationships and your vision alive by speaking life into your them and into theirs.
We work so hard to prioritize these in our lives and yet we struggle to find the right way to keep it all top of mind and on one page. Again, my rule being: no added pressure or stress. So, I forged the Vision Ignition Prosperity Playbook from this. Where women like us can keep track of all of lifes stuff, one unstressful and fully eventful week at a time. Equipping us for the more we are headed towards. Because releasing control of the goal and vision itself doesn’t have to mean chaos, it means comfort. It means living your vision, and each bite of it. Every. Single. Day.
If you are ready to make your planner work for you, jump into this mini-course that can bring any plan AND VISION to life!
