That can be hard to do in the face of uncertainty. And it’s not the best way to set goals and achieve real progress, no matter how uncertain or unpredictable things may be.
Why?
Because goals focused on a specific milestone or outcome only give you two options.
With outcome goals, it’s all or nothing. You either succeed or you fail. These goals are rigid and restrictive. There’s no middle ground.
And that can create a mental trap for anyone — especially in unpredictable times. It heightens our fear of failure when we look at how far we have to go to reach our goals.1
It can also lock us into a negative mindset. When that happens, we lose the drive to work toward our goals. We procrastinate and doubt ourselves. And we focus on how far we’ve fallen short, instead of how much we may have achieved.1
All of that works against us and our goals. It undermines our motivation, drains our confidence, and derails us.1
Knowing what types of goals to set for yourself, especially when things feel uncertain, can make a big difference in the progress you’re able to make toward them.
So, as you think about your goals, focus on the process and what you can do, not the outcomes that can be out of your control.
If you do, you’ll be able to set better goals for yourself in 2021. And you’ll have a much better chance of achieving meaningful progress — no matter what this year throws your way.1
