Fiercely Kind Shifts to Get More Done (4 of 4): Are Your Goals Still Inspiring You?

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This week we wrap up our look at Fiercely Kind approaches to stay motivated and get more done with the final of four bite-sized articles centred on “Create a Life You Love”—one of our 4Cs.

We started this series to stay motivated and focused on our goals—as the year unfolds.

And almost four months have passed since you set your goals for the year: Have you made as much progress as you hoped?

If not, you’re not alone. So, let’s see what we can do to change that!

Why do we set goals in the first place?

The purpose of setting goals is, yes, to get clear on what you want—and to create a framework and action plan to make that happen.

But the true purpose of goals isn’t checking boxes—it’s to create a life that energises and fulfills you.

When goals become a chore instead…

Modern life has become a relentless cycle of overcommitment, overstimulation—and overwhelm: we’re physically and mentally tired from squeezing in too many activities, and constantly filling our brains with information.

It’s no wonder we struggle to find time and energy to work on our goals!

…And then our goals can become a chore—or worse we beat ourselves up—because we haven’t done as much on our goals as we hoped.

An example: I remember a client who was super-excited to quit her job and go back to school to study for a new career. But she kept procrastinating, and then her mom got sick. She missed the deadline to apply, and gave up. She was so hard on herself.

When I asked her: “When you think about your goal to switch careers now, what do you feel?”
She immediately said, “Shame. And I feel stupid too! What an idiot!”.

Her goal—which had once been exciting—had become a weapon she used against herself.

The Missing Piece in Goal-Setting

In this “Fiercely Kind Shifts to Get More Done” series, we’ve explored igniting Your Goals with WHY! to connect to a deeper purpose, Slowing Down to create space for what matters and turning Procrastination into deep self-understanding.

But there’s one critical element that underlies them all:

Your goals are meant to INSPIRE you—not beat yourself up with!

When you think about your goals, you should get a little thrill of excitement, anticipation. You should feel something.

Which means that anytime your goals become a source of guilt, shame or self-criticism, something fundamental has gone astray.

3 Ways to Get Re-Inspired By Your Goals

The next time you judge yourself about your goals, STOP and try these Fiercely Kind approaches:

1. Reconnect with your vision

Does your goal still light you up inside? Does it align with who you’re becoming?

Fiercely Kind Practice: Close your eyes and visualise achieving your goal. Notice what you feel in your body. Excitement? Relief? Nothing? If the spark is gone, give yourself permission to adapt—or replace it with something truly inspiring.

2. Revisit your WHY

Why are you doing this again? What deeper meaning does this goal serve? How does it connect to your values?

Fiercely Kind Practice: Write down three specific reasons this goal matters. How will achieving this goal enhance your life or the lives of others? If you struggle to find meaningful answers, your WHY may need rediscovery.

3. Assess your journey with self-kindness

Progress rarely follows a straight line. Small steps matter.

Fiercely Kind Practice: Answer these questions in your journal:
- Am I on the right track—even if progress feels slow?
- What meaningful steps forward have I already taken, however small?
- What unexpected challenges have I faced that deserve self-compassion?
- What meaningful steps forward could I take next, however small?
- What one small, meaningful step could I take this week?

How to use your learnings:

This week, take a look at one goal you’ve been struggling with, apply the 3 practices above and then make a conscious choice to either:

Recommit with renewed inspiration
Adjust your goal to fit where you are now or
Let the goal go

Wrap-up

So, the final fiercely kind secret to stay motivated and get more done is to remember that:

Your goals are there to inspire you, not beat yourself up with!

And whenever your goals feel overwhelming or impossible—or you’re criticising yourself because “you’re not there yet”, remember to STOP—and use the 3 fiercely kind approaches shared above.

Finally remember: Goals should stretch you, give you meaning and purpose and help you create a life you love. They might be scary sometimes, but they should always uplift and inspire you!

Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time. Domonique Worship

For even more inspiration, check out:

How have your goals been making you feel lately? Inspired or exhausted? Share your experience in the comments below!

Image of Excited Woman in yellow sweater against lilac background by wayhomestudio via Freepik