📝 This Tiny Tweak Made Goal Setting Feel... Fun?
plus, downloadthis beautiful 8-page goal setting workbook!
There’s just SOMETHING about the calendar turning to September that instantly makes me want to grab my planner, sharpen my nonexistent pencils, get ridiculously organized, and embrace the seasonal fresh start with some shiny, new goals.
It’s giving… teacher’s pet?
But, for real.
I just can’t help it.
Whether my ambitions are personal, professional, or something in between— this time of year feels natural to get my life together & set a few goals to finish the year strong.
And, today, I’m going to share ONE specific mindset shift that completely changed how I set and approach my goals…
This absolutely applies to you, as well. Because no matter what type of ambitions you are setting this autumn, I’m confident they can be optimized in a *very specific way* simply by changing your wording. Let’s dive in!
When it comes to setting goals, the language we use matters more than we might think. Often— without realizing— we fall into a deprivation mindset, focusing on what we need to cut out, avoid, or give up. While this approach can work, it can also feel like we’re constantly restricting ourselves, which isn’t… exactly motivating. 🙃
Instead, consider an addition approach: setting goals that emphasize what you’re adding to your life— rather than what you’re taking away.
For me, it’s a mindset shift of scarcity into one of abundance. For example, flip “I’m going to stop buying my daily $5 coffee to save money,” into “I’m going to start depositing $5 into my savings every day.”
It’s a small shift, but rather than cutting out indulgences or habits, you’re choosing to ADD in something positive— and getting the same result in the process. Let’s explore this a bit more…
Deprivation approach: I’m am only allowed to eat out 3x/week
Addition approach: I’m going to start cooking at home 4x/week
Deprivation mindset: I cannot spend more than $700 per week.
Addition approach: I will add $5000 to my savings by the end of the year.
Deprivation approach: I want to lose 5 lbs.
Addition approach: I will add 3 servings of vegetables and 100 oz. of water to my daily food intake.
Deprivation mindset: I want to get rid of a ton of stuff.
Addition approach: I will add a 1-hour decluttering session to my schedule each week.
Deprivation mindset: I want to cut back on my caffeine consumption.
Addition mindset: I will start drinking herbal tea at 12:00 PM daily.
Deprivation approach: I want to stop scrolling my phone before bed
Addition approach: I’m going to start reading for 15 minutes before I go to sleep
It’s a subtle change, but don’t the second phrases in each set sound more doable? More motivating? More tangible?
…Maybe even more exciting?
Personally, the goals I’ve written in the past that were focused on avoiding or depriving myself became so incredibly hard to stick to. Blame it on good ol’ human nature, but forcing myself to remove things that I enjoyed in the name of “making progress” simply didn’t feel good. I wanted to accomplish my goals in a way that felt uplifting, tangible, and inspiring, …
✨ So, what if we stopped depriving ourselves in the sake of our goals and instead focused on adding positive habits to our lives? ✨
Whether it’s adding more protein to your meals, reading an extra chapter per day, incorporating a quick meditation into your morning or making an extra deposit into your savings— all the little “just one mores” that we add into our lives truly DO move the needle in a much more effective and intuitive way than dwelling on what you’re going to take away from yourself (because honestly, what’s fun or motivating about that???).
➡️ Now, I gotta ask— how are you going to reframe your goals to an addition mindset this fall? What could you add in? What small habits could set you in motion towards your goals?
I encourage you to take even 20 minutes to write and reflect on your hopes for this upcoming season… while life often feels hectic and busy, it is truly so powerful to make the time, intentionally pause, clarify what you really want, and set a goal or two for THIS season of your life.
Even if your life feels fast-paced lately, don’t underestimate what you can accomplish— with proper direction and some focus, a lot truly can happen in a short amount of time.
Alright, my friend, that’s all for today ◡̈ If this post was helpful for you, I’d be so grateful it if you left a like or comment, or shared it with a friend or accountability partner. Word of mouth is so powerful for this little ol’ newsletter, and I am so grateful for all of you that read along each and every week.
Cheers to September and cheers to fresh starts!
While the bulk of this post was entirely free & open to everyone (I hope you enjoyed!), I couldn’t resist making an extra treat for my paid subs ◡̈ Check it out below!
