As the new year unfolds, many of us find ourselves setting ambitious goals—whether it’s reaching a certain income milestone, losing weight, or growing our businesses. But have you ever paused to ask why you set those goals? Often, what we think we want isn’t truly what we’re seeking. What we’re really seeking is the feeling we’ll experience once we have that goal. By understanding the deeper motivations behind your goals, you can get clear on what your CORE drivers are and reshape your approach to goal-setting and create a life that feels fulfilling right now. No more waiting for “wish fulfilled” to feel joyful and accomplished.
Here’s how you can uncover the hidden drivers and core goals you aspire to and how to realign your focus.
1. Recognize the Real Objective
What you think is your “end goal” might actually be a distraction. For example, you may set a goal to lose 15 pounds or raise $5 million in Series A funding. But ask yourself: What does achieving this goal mean to me?
Most likely, these goals are proxies for deeper desires—feeling healthy, experiencing joy, or achieving security. Recognizing that your goals are often symbols for an emotional or psychological outcome is the first step toward uncovering your true objectives.
Action Step: Write down your top three goals for the year. For each goal, ask yourself “why” at least five times, “Why do I want this?” Keep digging until you identify the core emotion or state you’re really striving for.
For example:
Goal: I want to reach 1M in ARR.
Why? Because then we’ll have enough proof point for investors to go in on our next funding round.
Why does this matter? Because I want my company to succeed and we need external funding.
Why do I want my company to succeed? Because I want to have an impact on the world and I think we have a great plan and team to do that.
Why do I want to have an impact? Because I want to feel like my life has meaning. I want to live a meaningful life. (We’re getting closer now…)
Why do I want to have a meaningful life? Because I want to feel good about myself and my life. I want to experience joy and connection.
Core driver and my hidden goal: Meaning in life | Joy and connection
2. Introspection Is Key: Discover Your Core Drivers
Your true goals are not numbers or milestones—they’re emotional states and core drivers. These might include joy, love, fulfillment, or connection. These core drivers often remain hidden beneath layers of operational goals or societal expectations.
Through introspection, you can uncover what truly matters to you. This clarity helps you focus on actions and habits that align with your emotional needs instead of chasing surface-level achievements.
Action Step: Reflect on moments in your life when you felt deeply fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? Use these insights to identify your core drivers.
3. Achieve Your Goals Now: The Simplicity of Fulfillment
Here’s the game-changer: The goals you’re chasing may already be within your reach. You don’t need to lose 15 pounds to feel confident, or secure millions in funding to feel accomplished. The feelings you seek—joy, confidence, fulfillment—can often be cultivated immediately through small, intentional actions.
For example, if joy is your ultimate goal, identify daily habits or experiences that bring you joy. Whether it’s dancing, connecting with loved ones, or spending time in nature, incorporating these practices into your life creates the emotional state you’re striving for—right now.
Action Step: Right your goals big on separate pages. Under the goal, list all the activities or habits that you can think of that foster the emotions you’re chasing. Commit to practicing at least one of these habits daily.
4. Balance the Material and the Spiritual
Many people fall into one of two traps:
- Believing external achievements (like money or recognition) will create inner happiness.
- Focusing solely on internal peace while neglecting tangible, real-world accomplishments.
The truth lies in finding balance. Embrace the material goals that excite and motivate you, but don’t tie your sense of worth to achieving them. At the same time, nurture your inner feelings of joy and peace, knowing they’re the foundation of long-term fulfillment.
Action Step: Reflect on how your material goals (e.g., financial growth) align with your spiritual or emotional goals (e.g., feeling secure). Strive to integrate both perspectives into your daily life.
5. Act in Accordance and Consistency
Finally, the most important step to achieving meaningful success is acting in alignment with your goals—both material and emotional. Instead of focusing solely on outcomes, shift your attention to the behaviors and habits that support those outcomes.
For example, if your goal is to raise $5 million in funding, identify the daily habits (e.g., investor outreach, pitch refinement) that will get you there. At the same time, if your deeper desire is to feel joy, incorporate habits that foster that feeling. This approach ensures you’re working toward success without sacrificing your well-being.
Consistency is key here. Small, meaningful actions, repeated over time, will create the life you’re envisioning.
Action Step: For each of your core drivers, identify 2-3 daily habits that align with them. Track your consistency and reflect on the impact these habits have on your sense of fulfillment.
Redefine Success on Your Terms
Goal-setting doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or leave you constantly striving for more. By uncovering the deeper “why” behind your goals, you can align your actions with your true desires and start feeling fulfilled today.
Remember: Success isn’t just about achieving external milestones—it’s about living in alignment with your values and experiencing the emotions you cherish most.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re ready to redefine your approach to goal-setting and create a life you love without burning out, check out my YouTube video, “The Hidden Truth About Your Goals: What You Really Want Isn’t What You Think,” for a deeper dive into these concepts. 👉 Watch the full video here.
This approach has transformed how I view success, and I’m confident it can do the same for you. Let me know in the comments: What’s one core driver you’re focusing on this year?
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