When I was 12 years old I read my first self-development book, which sparked a curiosity for personal development and psychology — and led to me deciding that I wanted to become a psychologist when I grew up.
After high school I got accepted into university to study psychology, but during my gap year I realised that I didn’t really want to become a psychologist anymore.
I thought it was a waste to have spent nearly a decade working towards something, then to realise that it wasn’t actually what I wanted anymore.
So even though I knew that it wasn’t what I wanted anymore, I still held onto this goal for quite awhile.
This is why it’s so important to make sure you truly want to achieve your goal before you commit to it — as well as continually checking in with yourself while you’re pursuing your goal to ensure it’s still aligned to what you want.
And on that note, here are 19 questions to ask yourself before you commit to a goal, to make sure it’s truly what you want. Plus I’ve also got a super useful worksheet to help you work through the questions.
1. Does this goal make you feel like your moving in the direction you want to go?
2. How will you feel when you achieve this goal?
3. Why do you want to achieve this goal?
4. Does this goal align with how you want to feel?
5. How does this goal fit in with your big vision?
6. Does working towards this goal make you feel the way you want to feel — even though it might be super challenging?
7. Will your future self be proud of you for this goal?
8. Does this goal feel aligned to you?
9. What is this goal’s greater purpose?
10. How does this goal contribute to the vision you have for your ideal life?
11. If you had free choice, would you honestly choose to pursue this goal?
12. Does the idea of both achieving and pursuing this goal bring you joy?
13. Do you feel like you “should” pursue this goal? Why?
14. Is this goal REALLY what you want?
15. Is this goal — and the timeframe you wish to achieve it in — truly realistic?
16. Are you willing to do what it takes to achieve this goal?
17. Are you prepared to dig deep and take action to make this goal happen?
18. Will this goal be worth it?
19. How can you set yourself up for success in achieving this goal?
So whether you’ve realised that you truly want this goal and are devoted to making it happen — or you don’t actually want what you thought you wanted — what I hope you take away from this is:
And now I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Do you check in with yourself before committing to a goal? How do you go about it?
PS. If you’re wanting support with your goals, step right this way.
PPS. You might also like: 9 mistakes people make when setting goals.