3 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Goals for Yourself

3 mistakes to avoid when creating goals for yourself

Verywell / Julie Bang

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Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern.

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Friday Fix: Episode 130

When you struggle to reach your goals, you might be tempted to blame it on a lack of self-discipline or too many obstacles that stood in your way. But, there’s a chance the problem wasn’t a character flaw or even an environmental issue. Instead, the problem might have been the goal itself.

If you don’t establish a clear, helpful goal in the beginning, you’ll set yourself up for failure.

Most of us weren’t ever taught how to set goals. In fact, we were likely pressured to set an annual resolution but weren’t taught how to create short-term goals for ourselves.

Creating goals for yourself is a great way to establish a happier, healthier life. When you’re working on something, you’ll feel better about yourself. And you’ll be more likely to endure the short-term pain associated with reaching a goal that can lead to long-term satisfaction. 

So whether you want to get in better shape, pay off your debt, become a happier person, or launch your own business, start with a good goal. The way you word that goal makes a huge difference.

In today’s Friday Fix, I explain how to avoid the most common goal-setting mistakes I see as a therapist. And I’ll help you craft a goal that increases your chances of success

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By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief
Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.