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    How to Make a Great Goal (and actually stick to it)

    Writer's picture: NarelleNarelle


    New Year’s is here, and you know what that means—goal-setting season is in full swing.

    Everywhere you turn, people are setting goals, programs are promising to help you smash them, and suddenly everyone’s throwing around words like discipline and SMART goals like they didn’t just spend the last month in a cheese-and-chocolate coma.


    Now, I love a good goal as much as the next person, but let’s be honest—most New Year’s resolutions have the lifespan of an ice cream cone in the Australian summer. They start strong, looking fresh and full of potential, and then… well, by February, they’re a melted puddle of regret.


    So, instead of setting yourself up for the annual cycle of enthusiastic start  mild panic  quiet abandonment, let’s talk about a better way to set goals. One that actually works.


    Let me introduce you to the 3 P’s, Towards vs. Away, and the two sneaky little forces behind every goal—Desperation and Inspiration.


    These simple shifts can help you figure out whether your goals are actually working for you or if they need a little makeover to feel more empowering (and less like a distant relative you’re avoiding at a family reunion).


    The 3 P’s of Goal-Setting

    If a goal is going to work for you, it needs to tick these three boxes:


    Positive

    Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t.

    Saying “I don’t want to be stressed” is like telling someone “Don’t think of a pink elephant.” Guess what you just pictured?

    Instead, try “I want to feel calm and organised.” Much better. Your brain now has something productive to focus on instead of just trying to avoid disaster.


    Personal

    This is your goal, not your mum’s, your partner’s, or Karen from accounting’s idea of success.

    Start with “I” and make sure it actually matters to you. Because if your heart isn’t in it, it’s going to feel like trying to run through wet cement.


    Possible

    Be realistic about where you’re at right now.

    Setting a goal to “run a marathon next month” when you currently get winded walking to the fridge? That’s setting yourself up for failure. Let’s start with “walk around the block without questioning my life choices” and build from there.


    Are You Moving Towards or Running Away?

    Here’s the thing about humans: we’re either running towards something we want or away from something we don’t.


    Think about it—if your goal is moving away from something negative (“I don’t want to be overweight”), it might give you a bit of a kickstart, but it’s hard to sustain. Why? Because once you sort of achieve it, you get comfortable and stop.


    Now, if you reframe your goal to move towards something positive (“I want to feel strong, fit, and healthy”), your brain gets excited. Instead of constantly looking over your shoulder at what you’re escaping, you’re looking ahead at what you’re creating.


    Big difference. Like the difference between dragging yourself to the gym out of guilt and going because you genuinely want to feel energised and strong.


    Where Is Your Goal Coming From?

    This part is a game-changer: The reason behind your goal matters more than the goal itself.


    According to Joseph Nguyen in Don’t Believe Everything You Think, goals come from one of two places:

    • Desperation

    • Inspiration

    And trust me, you want to know the difference.


    Goals Born from Desperation

    Desperation-based goals feel like trying to sprint uphill in a pair of flip-flops. They often come from a place of not feeling enough—not fit enough, not rich enough, not whatever enough. They’re usually driven by external validation, like losing weight to impress someone or grinding at a job you hate just for a fancy title.


    Even if you achieve them, you’ll probably feel unsatisfied and just set a bigger, even more exhausting goal next. It’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom—no matter how much you pour in, it never quite feels like enough.


    Goals Born from Inspiration

    Now, inspired goals? Completely different story.


    They feel light, exciting, and expansive. Like you’re working toward something that actually matters to you. These goals don’t come from fear or pressure but from pure curiosity and desire.


    Joseph Nguyen says to ask yourself:

    “If I had unlimited money, had traveled the world, no fear, and didn’t need anyone’s approval—what would I do?”


    Your answer? That’s your inspiration talking.


    Let’s Set Goals That Feel Good This Year

    When you ask your brain a question, it will always answer.


    Instead of asking, “What should my New Year’s resolution be?” ask:

    • “What’s one goal that genuinely excites me?”

    • “How can I phrase it in a way that makes me feel good?”

    • “What’s my first easy, inspired step?”


    The best goals don’t feel like chores. They feel like possibilities. So let’s make 2025 the year of goals that actually light you up.


    Oh, and if your goal happens to be eating better without all the hassle, I’ve got something for you.

    This month, I’m running a 3-week meal prep challenge, and it’s brilliant. Three full weeks of planned-out, delicious and healthy meals to help you start February feeling amazing - you can check it out here https://sagessehealth.practicebetter.io/#/63d7530eca5d161ba115b712/bookings?c=677a5d46aa2c60fd2fd935a9

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