Why Goals Fail: Why People Fail to Achieve Their Goals

Greatness in you

If you are like me, then you know that there is greatness in store for you. No matter how hard things get or how tough things are, you know it’s there. Sometimes our vision can get a little murky. Pressures from outside influences such as our family, friends and other external factors can sometimes cause us to feel like our future will always be out of our reach.

In this society where we seek constant, immediate and effortless gratification, it can become especially burdensome waiting for what's to come. Perhaps along the way you begin to ask yourself, “What is holding me back from reaching my destiny and accomplishing my goals?”

Since you are reading this right now, I can only assume that you are a curious person; the type that seeks until you find. When you have this intrinsic desire, such passion to actualize your dreams and manifest your destiny, what keeps you from accomplishing your goals?

If you do not know already, let me be the first one to tell you... Motivation and sheer desire alone will not guarantee that you succeed at your goals. In fact, the act of setting goals alone in itself does not guarantee that you will accomplish them. When this happens, it can impede on our desire to achieve success and optimize opportunities.

So why is it that we can be so steadfast in settings goals for our own dreams, yet still fail to fulfill them? Are you ready for your moment of clarity?

Four reasons for failing to accomplish goals

1. Not Understanding Importance of Goals

Your goals are what you make them. If you make them just words that you say and write on a piece of paper, they will be just that. If you make them into a dream that you are determined to define, this means that your goals are simply there as your guide. Either way, knowing your purpose for setting goals and understanding the important tasks you have to do in maintaining and actualizing them is vital.

2. Goals Are Not Specific Enough

Do you know what you want? Do you know EXACTLY what it is that you want? Make sure that you pinpoint your success as specifically as possible. This will allow you to press forward with laser point precision.

For example, if you were on a road trip from the East Coast, would you want to go to the West Coast, or Nevada….or Las Vegas! Also, what if you are planning this type of vacation, but have no car or way to get across the country? In this way, a vacation may be possible, but it is important that you outline all the things you need to get that.

Know where you want to go and what tools you are willing to use in order to help you get there. The more specific you make your goals, the better you can navigate through the roadmap during your journey.

3. No Support System

Life is a contact sport. You can always better yourself with the help and support of others around you. For instance, the quarterback may be the most popular player, but what is he if without his offensive linemen?

What makes you think that setting goals is any different? Sharing your goals with someone that you trust will help keep you confident and accountable. Not to mention that you have someone to talk to and discuss the rough patches that you may face along the way. This will help you to dream bigger, overcome obstacles faster and create communication that allows you to step outside of your comfort zone and see the Big Picture.

4. Fear of Failure

When setting goals, we often start with our dreams, which tend to be too big. But what if we actually set actionable goals first in order to begin the process of turning fantasy into reality?

Many times, fear of failure can prevent us from even taking the first step. When this happens, remember what it is that you are fighting for. Take yourself out of the present situation and envision your future success. What does it look like? What does it feel like? What will you do once you get there? Remind yourself that most (if not all) successful people that you know have failed at least one time (if not many) in pursuit of their goals. It is more painful to keep thinking about the "what ifs" and how you may fail, rather than thinking about what you did wrong and how you can improve or change things. Better to have tried than forever wonder.

The failures along the way never matter as much as the final destination. They can either be your stumbling blocks or your stepping stones. You choose! So when fear tries to settle in, remember that your courage to pursue your dreams is stronger than your fear of failure.