Setting Goals When You Feel Stuck
When you feel stuck, setting goals can seem impossible because you don’t even know where you’re headed. Thoughts of, “Why even set goals? I have nothing I’m striving for.” Or, “What will these goals actually help me do?”
Why setting goals when you feel stuck still matters
The thing is, even setting small goals can help you find out what your BIG Dream is. Each choice you make shows what is important to you. Each goal you set and achieve moves you forward to the type of life you want to live… and if it doesn’t, you get to stop and make a different choice, set a different goal.
If you find yourself in a space that you don’t like, you have the option to choose something different. It may take some effort to change habits or get over emotional trauma that keeps holding you back, but every effort you make shifts your trajectory closer and closer to that which you really want.
Start Small: Finding alignment with your core values
Start small. Take a moment to journal about your core values:
What are they? (Think about health, finances, relationships, etc.)
What in your life is in alignment with them? (What is working well in your life)
What is out of alignment? (What isn’t working so well in your life)
What are one or two small things you can do to shift what is out of alignment to be closer to your core values?
This will be the basis of creating a list of goals for yourself.
Now we’ll get into the strategy of setting a goal so that you make those incremental shifts that will get you closer to your BIG Dream, even if you don’t know what that is just yet.
Using the SCAMP framework to create meaningful goals
My friend Heather Campbell, who happens to be an amazing Brand and Marketing Strategist, came up with a framework for marketing goals that I found to be SO MUCH BETTER than “SMART” goals. I updated it a little to be broader than just marketing and found that the SCAMP framework provides the depth and motivation to goals. So, let’s dive in…
SCAMP (Solid & Strategic, Core Values, Actionable, Measurable, Plan) goals are deeply connected to you and your values. They ensure your goals are well founded and strategically aligned with your long-term dreams and core values, are specific with clear steps, and can be tracked and easily adjusted if necessary.
In the exercise above you’ve already completed the Solid & Strategic, Core Values, and Actionable steps. Once you have your one or two small things you can start shifting. The next thing to do is define how you will Measure your success and create a Plan to achieve these goals.
For example, if your goal is to build up your relationships, you could measure your success by how often you hang out with friends. Or the amount of quality time you spend with loved ones. Then make a plan to call these people and set up some dates and times to regularly meet up.
Don’t be afraid to adjust your plan if you find that things don’t resonate with who you wish to be. That is the benefit of going through this process. You’ll find out what works and what doesn’t and can begin to shift towards the people, places, and things that light you up and give you joy.
Embrace flexibility as you move forward
Making a shift doesn’t make those people, places, and things “bad”, they are just not in alignment with you, who you wish to be, and where you wish to go in life. Release them with love and continue down your path of discovery.
As you continue to make small goals and work towards them, you may find a theme that will lead you to your BIG Dream. Or it may show up like a firework saying, “FINALLY! You’ve opened your eyes! Now we can get to work and have some fun!”
Either way, you’ll be creating momentum towards the life you want. You’ll start to see the pathway through the forest of possibilities that will lead you to that divine spark you were given in this life…Your BIG DREAM, that thing you KNOW you were meant to be and do.
Discover the path to your big dream
Setting goals when you don’t know what you want might feel like a challenge, but with the right approach, it can become the stepping stone to discovering your BIG Dream. By using the SCAMP framework, you’ll create a strong foundation for your goals that align with your core values and long-term vision.
Ready to start taking those small, powerful steps toward your dream? Download the SCAMP Infographic today and transform how you approach goal setting with clarity and confidence!