10 Steps to Setting Purpose-Driven Goals for 2025

It's the second month of the year and as a coach, I see a lot of people having different relationships with their new years resolutions. Some have made great progress and are starting to build a lot of momentum with their goals, some have stayed somewhat consistent with their goals and others have already jumped ship and made achieving their goals a next year problem. Wherever you're landing on this spectrum, I hope these 10 steps will help to propel you forward on the path to all that greatness and success the universe has planned for you. Don't get too hung up on where you're starting or where you're coming from. With these 10 steps, you'll be able to set your goals more intentionally and more aligned with you as a person which will bring all these dreams and goals well within your reach.

Step 1: Align Your Goals with Your Core Values

The first step in successfully achieving your goals is making sure the goals you're looking to achieve are in alignment with your core values and who you want to be. Everyone wants the perfect body, the perfect relationship, and the job that pays well, but if you want to be successful you need to sit down and really see what these things look like for you and in your life. If you are spending all your time trying to accomplish things because you think it's what others want or you think it will make people like you more, then making progress towards these goals will feel like an uphill battle the whole way. I'm not saying that it's going to be easy, but when you're goals are aligned with who you're becoming and the values of your best self you will feel much less friction as you work towards them.

Step 2: Focus on Your Why

This step could be easily included in the first one but I wanted to give "the why" it's own special step because I think it's truly that important. I'm known to my clients as the woman who will not stop asking why. I don't do this to annoy them (as much as a few of them think this is the case), I do it because if you can't answer why for everything you do, say, and think then what business do you have doing, saying or thinking it? Everything in your life needs to be powered by a why and odds are if you aren't seeing success it's because your why is undefined or not strong enough. Your why is the reason you're doing something. It's the thing you return to when something goes wrong or you feel like giving up. Without the why, the things you do have no purpose which is exactly what we are trying to avoid. It's so much harder to do things when you don't know why you're doing it or there's no real purpose to it. Find the why in every goal and see how quick things change.

Step 3: Set SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)

This third step is all about deep diving into the goals you're looking to achieve. The least met goal is always the most vague one. When you sit down with your goals and create actionable steps towards them it not only breaks the goal down into less daunting pieces, but it allows you to see progress before meeting the goal which is important. Let's look at an example of eating healthier.

• Specific: Clearly define the goal. Instead of "get healthy," specify how: "Eat 3 servings of vegetables daily."

• Measurable: How will you track your progress? "I will track my vegetable intake on a food journal."

• Achievable: Make sure the goal is within reach. Set a challenge, but keep it realistic considering your current resources.

• Relevant: Ensure the goal aligns with your larger life plans or values.

• Time-bound: Give yourself a timeframe to accomplish the goal. This helps create urgency and reduces procrastination.

I want to focus in here on the achievable piece. Achievable doesn't mean something that you can easily accomplish. It doesn't mean not pushing yourself to reach goals that seem huge and scary. Achievable means that you don't make the goals impossible with what you have to work with. For example, if you set a goal of running every day after work but you have to pick the kids up from school, run errands, or are already obligated to something else during that time, you're not really setting yourself up for success there. Setting unreasonable or unreachable goals for ourselves is the most common way of self-sabotaging that I've seen. Don't fall victim to this and mold your goals to fit your life.

Step 4: Break Goals into Smaller, Actionable Steps

Large, overwhelming goals can often paralyze us. Breaking them into smaller tasks makes them feel more achievable and gives you consistent wins along the way. For each goal, create a step-by-step plan. For example, if your goal is to "start a side business," break it into smaller actions: "Research business ideas," "Create a website," "Write a business plan." Celebrate each milestone, even the small ones! It will help build momentum.

Step 5: Set Both Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

Long-term goals provide direction and vision, but short-term goals create the immediate steps that move you toward your bigger aspirations. Balancing both keeps you focused and motivated in the present, while still keeping an eye on the future. Set a long-term goal, like "Build a sustainable career I’m passionate about." Then break it down into short-term goals, such as "Update my resume," or "Take an online course to improve my skills." Make sure to regularly reassess to see how your short-term efforts are contributing to your long-term vision.

Step 6: Ensure the Goal is Realistic and Flexible

Goals should challenge you, but they must also be realistic. It’s essential that the goal is achievable based on your current circumstances, yet flexible enough to adjust to unforeseen challenges.Consider your current responsibilities, resources, and constraints when setting goals. Leave room for flexibility in your plan. Life happens—sometimes you’ll need to pivot, and that's okay. Reassess your goals every few months and adjust if needed.

Step 7: Visualize Success

Visualization can help you stay connected to your goals and give you the mental tools to stay motivated, especially during tough times. It also will allow you to tap into some of the feelings and emotions that will come along with achieving these goals. Think about how you would feel if that goal was already accomplished. Sit in that feeling as long as you can. This will allow you to energetically tap into the version of you that has what you desire which is extremely powerful in bringing closer to your goals. Spend a few minutes each day visualizing yourself achieving your goal. Imagine how you’ll feel, what your life will look like, and what’s different once you’ve accomplished it. Visualizing success helps strengthen your commitment and reminds you of the deeper "why" behind your goal.

Step 8: Stay Accountable

Accountability helps ensure you stay on track. Whether it’s through self-monitoring or involving others, sharing your goals with someone keeps you responsible and motivated. Share your goals with a friend, coach, or mentor who can check in with you regularly.

Consider using apps or journaling to track your progress. Reward yourself for progress, but also be open to adjusting your plan if things aren’t working.

Step 9: Be Kind to Yourself and Embrace Failures

Goals are about growth, not perfection. Everyone experiences setbacks and challenges. It’s how you handle them that matters. If you only allow yourself to succeed perfectly, you will never succeed. There's no right or wrong way to get things done. You and someone else can achieve similar things in completely different ways so never limit yourself. Recognize that failure is part of the process, not a reflection of your worth. Learn from mistakes and adjust your approach rather than seeing them as roadblocks. Practice self-compassion and celebrate your progress, no matter how small.

Step 10: Revisit and Reflect Regularly

As life changes, so may your priorities. Regularly reflecting on your goals allows you to stay aligned with your true desires, ensuring that your goals remain relevant and motivating. The best way to make sure that your goals are aligning with the person you're becoming is to check in with yourself as you become that person. Set a schedule for periodic check-ins, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Ask yourself: Are these goals still meaningful to me? What progress have I made? What barriers are still in my way? As you progress you will also learn new information that you didn't have when you set the goals originally. If needed, adjust your goals to stay aligned with your evolving vision and values.

Setting goals and sticking to them can seem like a gargantuan task. It's important to not only follow the steps and break things down but to also allow yourself to make mistakes. It's not going to look perfect especially when you are first starting. Don't get into the habit of completely writing things off if they aren't perfect. Don't let a bad day turn into a bad week. Don't let a bad week turn into a bad month. And don't let a bad month turn into another year of not meeting the goals you wanted to achieve. You've got this!