Are you ready to set goals that FEEL good? That feel aligned, that feel exciting, that feel inspiring and empowering? Goals that you feel like you want to tackle? Goals that you know will make your life better?
If you’re ready to set inspiring and meaningful goals, then keep reading, because in this blog post, we will talk about why traditional goal-setting doesn’t work, and how you can set better goals that not only feel achievable, but feel inspiring and aligned with the highest and best version of yourself.
Why Traditional Goal-Setting Doesn’t Work
Most of us are taught to set goals using traditional frameworks like SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). While these methods work for some, they often feel rigid, uninspiring, and disconnected from what truly fulfills us.
Have you ever set a goal—like making more money, losing weight, or getting a promotion—only to realize that once you achieved it, you still didn’t feel happy or satisfied? That’s because most goal-setting methods focus on external achievements rather than internal fulfillment.
The secret to setting goals that actually improve your life? Feelings-based goal setting.
Instead of asking, “What do I want to accomplish?” ask, “How do I want to feel?” When you start from a place of emotion, your goals become more meaningful, sustainable, and aligned with who you truly are.
Step 1: Start with How You Want to Feel
Rather than focusing on specific achievements, begin by identifying the emotions you want to experience more often in your daily life. Do you want to feel peaceful? Energized? Confident? Inspired? Fulfilled? Healthy?
For example:
Instead of setting a goal like “I want to lose 20 pounds,” ask yourself, “How do I want to feel in my body?” You may realize that what you truly want is to feel strong, confident, and healthy.
Instead of saying “I want to make six figures,” ask, “What feeling am I hoping more money will bring me?” Maybe you want to feel secure, free, or empowered.
🩷 Action item: Reflect on the following journal prompts and write down your answers so that you can come back to them in the future and continue refining your answers:
How do I want to feel within myself?
What emotions do I want to experience more of in my daily life?
What energy do I want to exude?
Step 2: Create a Vision for Your Life
Once you know how you want to feel, the next step is to visualize the kind of life that would support those feelings. This isn’t about listing external milestones—it’s about picturing a lifestyle that aligns with your heart. It’s about creating a vision for the kind of life that would feel exciting for you to wake up to, every day.
Take a moment to imagine your ideal day and get as detailed as possible:
How do you start your morning?
What kind of work do you do?
What activities bring you joy?
How do you feel throughout the day?
What habits and routines do you practice every day?
With what energy and mindset do you go through your day?
For example, instead of focusing on a goal like “I want to get a new job,” you might envision waking up each morning excited about the work you do, feeling fulfilled by your projects, and going to bed each night feeling content.
🩷 Action item: Write a paragraph describing your dream life. Focus on how it feels, not just what it looks like. Be as detailed as possible to tap into the emotions and sensations of your dream life.
Example:
"I wake up feeling well-rested and excited to tackle my day. I put on subliminal while I do my morning routine. I spend time journaling and drinking my coffee slowly. I do a few stretches, do my skincare, and get dressed for work. I have a job that feels meaningful and exciting and that I enjoy doing. Throughout the day, I nourish my day with healthy, energizing and tasty foods. I have a positive mindset and focus on the small, good moments. I take moments to recentre myself throughout the day by either journaling a few lines or taking a few deep breaths. I make sure to stretch my body throughout the day. At the end of the work day, I have a short routine to transition into the evening where I meditate, do a few stretches, journal and get into cozy clothes. Some days, I do a workout or yoga, depending on how my body feels.”
Step 3: Set Aligned Goals That Support That Vision
Now that you have a vision of the life you want, it’s time to set goals that help you create those feelings in your everyday life.
💡 Ask yourself: What actions or habits will help me feel the way I want to feel?
Here are a few examples:
If you want to feel strong and confident, your goal might be to move your body in a way that feels good (instead of forcing yourself into a workout routine you hate).
If you want to feel peaceful and grounded, your goal could be to create a morning mindfulness routine that allows you to start your day with intention.
If you want to feel inspired and creative, you might set a goal to write, paint, or work on a passion project for 30 minutes each day.
🔹 Tip: Your goals should feel exciting, not draining. If a goal feels like an obligation or chore, it’s probably not the right goal for you.
🩷 Action item: Make a list of all the tasks and habits that come to mind. Write everything the comes to mind. This can be a master list of all the tasks and habits that you can pull from occasionally and add to your routine.
Step 4: Break It Down Into Small, Manageable Steps
Big goals can feel overwhelming, which is why so many people give up before they even start. The key to success is breaking your goal into tiny, actionable steps.
For example:
Instead of saying “I want to write a book,” start with “I will write for 10 minutes every morning before work, from 7:00 AM - 7:10 AM.” Plus, you have to set yourself up to make it easy to show up do it. For example, leave your laptop open at your desk with the word document open so that in the morning, all you have to do is to sit at your desk and turn on your computer to start writing.
Instead of “I want to meditate every day,” try “I will meditate for 5 minutes every night, before bed.”And if you need additional help, add the task of finding a guided video or audio so that you can remove the overwhelm of “Am I doing it right? Am I doing it long enough? I don’t know what to do…”
🩷 Action item: Choose one micro-step to take today. Small steps build momentum, and momentum leads to lasting change. Pick one habit, break it down into small steps, and prepare anything that will make it easier for you to show up and practice the habit when the time comes.
Build a Life That Feels Good, Not Just Looks Good
When we set goals based on external expectations and societal norms, we often end up feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, and disconnected from ourselves. But when we set feelings-based goals, we create a life that not only looks good on the outside but actually feels good to experience.
So instead of asking, “What should I achieve?” start asking, “How do I want to feel?” Then, set goals that help you create those feelings—one small, intentional step at a time.
Ready to Gain Clarity on What You Truly Want?
If you’re ready to set goals that align with your heart but aren’t sure where to start, the Life Audit Workbook can help.
This free guided workbook will help you:
✅ Gain clarity on what’s missing in your life
✅ Identify the feelings you want to cultivate
✅ Set meaningful goals that actually feel good to achieve
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