Why I Stopped Setting Goals

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The Constraint Of Expectations

Ryan Holiday, author of “Ego is the Enemy”, along with many other books on stoicism, has no goals for his future.

Chris Williamson, host of the Modern Wisdom podcast, shares a similar sentiment.

It took me a while to get there, but I’m finally starting to become the type of person who doesn’t need goals. And I think you should too.

I’m certain you’ve set many goals, small or large in the past, that you have failed to commit to over the long run.

And it’s not because you’re lazy or incapable. It’s because you aren’t occupying the reality of the type of person who naturally creates a better life for themselves.

I will admit, having some goals in place to establish direction at the start of your journey will help you have something to strive towards.

It’ll give you something to shoot at.

But until you change who the person taking the shot is, you’ll likely always fall back into self-destructive patterns.

It wasn’t until I created a routine of habits that basically ensured I’d come out of each day a better person, that the goals I always wanted to reach started to grow nearer.

Ironic: Once I stopped setting goals, I got to the goals I used to set, but faster.

So that’s the first lesson: Don’t build your life around your goals. Build your life around crafting the identity of a person who naturally grows and gets better things.

In other words: Become the person you wish to meet.

The other issue with goal setting is having too many expectations.

The future is often unpredictable. And if you are so tied to it going a certain way, you’re going to spend so much time worrying you may never get to your goals, that you could’ve spent in the present building up an identity that effortlessly leads to a better life.

In many cases, I’ve achieved a lot of my dreams. I’ve surpassed 100k Youtube subscribers, and created an online business.

These are goals that took almost half a decade to reach.

And you know what I learned? There’s always going to be another peak. You won’t want to stop there. If you keep setting goals, you’ll always be addicted to wanting and expecting more from your life.

I’m not telling you to get complacent, nor am I telling you to not have standards for yourself.

I’m telling you to simplify this whole process—of worrying how you’re gonna “make it”, if you have the right goals, the right purpose, the right life, if you’re doing “enough”—by letting go of so many expectations, and focusing more on the daily actions that align with the person you’re trying to become.

If you do that, day in, and day out, you’ve won. There is nothing more you need to do.

That is what you’re looking for. That is success.

If you’re still stuck wondering how to craft your identity and daily routine, my Self Mastery School could help you.

Self Mastery School is a place for those who want to actualize their greatest potential, strengthen their self awareness, and connect with like-minded, ambitious people.

It’s designed to help you align with the identity that feels most fulfilling and authentic to you, while making growth as natural as brushing your teeth.

Just as it should be.

When you join the school, you’ll get access to:

• Full length courses/eBooks (including my Ultimate Self Mastery Course)

• Weekly coaching calls and lectures (related to self-awareness, making money online, social skills, etc.)

• An exclusive community of ambitious, open-minded people

The friendships in there feel genuine.

And everyone who has stayed active in the community has gone through some incredible transformations.

Here's some wins from our community:

I’ll see you in there.

Quote of The Week

Thanks for reading, everyone. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

-Cole