4 Unhealthy Goal Habits and What to Do Differently EP5

Overcoming Unhealthy Goal Habits: A Path to Joy and Fulfillment  Welcome to the first solo episode. I’m Alecia St. Germain, founder of Conscious Edge, and this podcast is all about the 4 most common unhealthy goal habits that can trip you up. They can also be detrimental to your joy, fulfillment, and overall well-being. Unhealthy Goal Habits and Why it Matters In my early days in coaching, I often set goals based on what others wanted, or what I thought would make them happy.That’s why it’s so important to set goals that are aligned with your personal values and non-negotiables, rather than striving to meet others' standards.    Four Unhealthy Goal Habits That May Be Stopping You These goal habits often plague high-achievers. You may recognize one or more, which is why I also want you to know where to start changing to other strategies that will better support you.   Achieving Goals at All Costs    - In this habit, your motto is “hit the goal or die trying,” and involves sacrificing personal needs and relationships to achieve business goals.  What to do instead: Create goals keeping your non-negotiables in mind so it’s not either/or, it’s both/and. Ask yourself, “What do I need to hit my goals, while still keeping what’s most precious to me intact?” 2. Setting Goals Based on External Expectations    - Many set goals to please others or prove their worth, which can lead to self-sabotage like perfectionism and procrastination. You may not even notice you’re doing this, until you realize that what matters to you may not always be what matters to others. What to do instead: Recognize why you are procrastinating. Imagine yourself doing that thing you’ve been procrastinating.  What’s the fear that pops up for you? What would make you feel safe without the overwhelm of being perfect? How can you start there?   Resisting Goal Setting Completely    - Have you heard the saying; never try, never fail? After experiencing burnout or failure some people decide to  avoid setting goals to escape potential disappointment and discomfort. What to do instead: Take an internal assessment and ask yourself, “What am I making not hitting these goals mean about myself?”  Practice letting goals be a direction and information about what’s working and what’s not without attaching your personal value to the outcomes. 4. Pivoting When Goals Get Hard    -Too often people choose to change direction when faced with challenges, many times unknowingly to avoid negative feelings. This comes from  a failure to build resilience and comes at the cost of financial stability.  What to do instead: When negative emotions show up, recognize them and find out what they are trying to tell you. Instead of pivoting, dive in and see what’s underneath the discomfort.  Transforming Your Approach to Goals Aligning goals with your true vision and non-negotiables is how you can avoid burnout and embrace joy. Instead, how can you shift your focus on learning and growth as part of your process? By understanding the underlying fears and motivations, you can set healthier, more sustainable goals. I’d love to know what resonated with you. What type of challenges do you have around goals and goal-setting? What would you like to do differently? Be sure to check out episode 6 when it’s published to dive more into the root cause of unhealthy goal habits. Overcoming Unhealthy Goal Habits: A Path to Joy and Fulfillment  Connect with Alecia: If you have ideas for topics to cover, please email them to [email protected]. Follow Alecia on Instagram for Bits of Joyful Inspiration Connect with Alecia on LinkedIn Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn Check out Jonathan Wellness Advocacy  Disclaimer You can learn more about The Exponential Entrepreneur: my personal development group coaching program for established women entrepreneurs who deeply desire to confidently lead their businesses to increased impact and financial growth without burnout