How To Set Achievable Goals That Align With Your Values and The Life You Want

11 min readJul 10, 2023

Setting goals is an essential step towards personal growth and success.

But it’s important to note that not all goals are created equal.

To unlock your true potential and create a deeply fulfilling life, it’s crucial to set goals that align with your core values.

By incorporating your values into your goal-setting process, you can create a powerful framework that will push you towards a life you truly want.

Here’s the exact step-by-step process you need to set value-driven goals that are not only desirable but achievable too.

Aesthetic stock image of a desk flat lay featuring a laptop, mouse, pencil and notebook. The image is purely for decorative use only to support the blog post on how to set value-driven goals

Not all goals are created equally

Setting goals is a healthy part of life.

When you set goals, you have something to work towards. They give you direction and a roadmap to follow so you can wake up each day with intention.

But not all goals can provide you with a real purpose.

In fact, one of the main reasons why people fail to reach their goals is because they are setting the wrong goals.

They fall into the trap of working towards something they think they “should” be doing rather than what they actually want. And then ultimately give up halfway through from lack of motivation.

The truth is, if a goal is not something that you truly want to achieve deep down inside, then chances are you will struggle to progress towards it or fail to even reach it.

In short, you can’t force something to work if the passion and commitment aren’t there, to begin with. So don’t just set goals you think you “should” achieve because society tells you it’s the norm.

Set value-driven goals and be more motivated and excited to achieve them.

What are value-driven goals?

As Andrew Carnegie once said, “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.”

And a goal that does each of these things is a goal that is driven by your core values and beliefs.

Setting value-driven goals is all about aligning your desires with what truly matters to you. By setting goals that you actually believe in, you can achieve outcomes that allow you to create a life you truly want.

In short, value-driven goals give you deeper fulfilment beyond surface-level goals.

Rather than working towards a goal you’ve set yourself on a whim, a value-driven goal motivates and excites you even when you’re faced with challenges, obstacles and setbacks.

Other benefits of setting goals driven by your core values include:

Create a path that aligns with your long-term vision
Bring clarity and focus to your daily actions
Empower you to stay committed and motivated
Feel accomplished and successful (whatever that means to you)
Build resilience and adaptability
Stay true to who you are and live a more authentic life
Become your “best” self
Experience a deeper sense of joy and fulfilment

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.”
Andrew Carnagie

How to set actionable goals that align with you and your values

Before working your way through the below “how-to” steps, I recommend first reflecting on your current goals. Go through each one to see if it is still relevant to you.

To do this, I recommend asking yourself these questions:

Out of 10, how motivated and committed am I to reach this goal?
How will this goal truly impact my life when I reach it?
Out of 10, how satisfied will I feel once I reach this goal?

If you find that your motivation, commitment and satisfaction levels are low, then chances are you are not driven by this goal. And if the goal won’t impact your life in a meaningful or fulfilling way, then you really need to consider whether it is a goal worth working towards.

Your choices are to either adjust the goal to make it more relevant to you or set new ones that actually serve you.

Here is the exact step-by-step process you need to set value-driven goals.

How to set achievab;e goals that align with your values infographic which shows 7 tips written in black caplock text with two stock images aligned side by side.

1 | Start with why

Knowing your why is the foundation of your goal-setting process.

It will serve you more than anything else as it is the driving force that will keep you motivated. Without a clear understanding of why you want to achieve a certain goal, it can be easy to lose focus and give up, or worse, work towards a goal you don’t actually want.

So please do not skip this step.

Take a moment now to establish your why by working through these prompts:

Why do I want to achieve this goal?
What will achieving this goal give me?
How will it positively and meaningfully impact my life?

Once you’ve established your why, you will have more clarity over your goals and focus on how you can reach them.

2 | Get clear on your core values

Core values are your fundamental beliefs.

They are the things that are most important to you and guide your behaviours, decisions, actions and of course, your goals. When you know what your personal values are, you can give more meaning to your life.

To figure out your core values you need to first figure out what is most important to you. Start by reflecting on the moments in your life that felt the most rewarding, satisfying and fulfilling or even when you were at your happiest.

Write it all down.

During this journaling practice, start to identify what values were present within these moments.

For example, one of my most rewarding and fulfilling moments was when I climbed Everest Base Camp in May 2018. The values that were present with me on this journey were: achievement, adventure, challenge, courage and determination to name a few.

Once you identify a value that still resonates with you, write it down on a separate piece of paper. Continue this exercise until you’ve reflected on all of your most fulfilling or rewarding moments and have a list of around 10–15 core values that all resonate with you.

You will then need to narrow down your list to just 5 core values. Use this blog post as a resource on how to complete this.

It might also be helpful for you to break down each core value further into 3–5 specific values so you can get even clearer on what you truly value.

To do this, ask yourself, “What does this core value mean to me?”

This will help you establish a deeper impact between your values and your goals.

And if it feels all too overwhelming for you, download my FREE core values workbook and become one step closer to achieving your goals.

How to map out your core value to create the life you actually want, infographic including figure out what is important to you, reflect on past experiences, identify the core values that were present during these moments, make a list of the ones that still resonate with you, narrow down your list to 5 core values. Black caplock text on off-white background next to two stock images.

3 | Set your value-driven goals

Now that you are clear on what your core values are, you can now set goals that align with these.

For example, if one of your core values is freedom, then you might set goals that are based on finding a location-independent job or starting your own business. You might also set the goal of creating a flexible schedule that allows you to spend more time on personal interests.

By setting value-driven goals, you can work on specific outcomes that reflect your desire for freedom.

To make sure your goals are truly inspired by your values, ask yourself this question:

What is the positive impact on each of my values if I achieve this goal?

If you can’t think of anything, then you might need to relook at your goal to ensure it’s definitely something you want.

Back in 2020 before I started this blog, I set the goal of doing an MA in Psychology but lacked the motivation and commitment to get started.

Upon reflection, this came down to the fact that the goal did not align with or satisfy my overall values. (It was purely based on how I wanted others to perceive me. I felt that if I had a master’s degree, people would think that I was smart and worthy — something that I have since gotten over.)

Two of my core values are freedom and creativity and I was unable to find any advantages of doing an MA that linked back to my values. Whereas starting a blog did drive my need for creativity and freedom. And here we are 🥰

As a rule of thumb, I only set 2–3 value-driven goals for each quarter. This allows me ample time to focus my energy on just one per month and increases my chances of reaching my goals as my efforts are not spread too thin.

Set as many or as little goals as you feel comfortable with and don’t forget to regularly review them to make sure they are still relevant.

4 | Use the SMARTER framework

To make your goals even more attainable, I recommend that you use the SMARTER framework.

I know this method sometimes gets a bad rep as it may seem rigid and restrictive, but in all honesty, it makes sense. Don’t just set random aspirations. Set goals with a strong and clear foundation.

Here’s your cheat sheet guide to the SMARTER framework.

I encourage you to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.

Specific — Your goals need to be detailed and specific. Clarify your goal by asking yourself, “What is the achievement? Why is this important? Who else is involved?”
Measurable — You must be able to track your progress as this helps you stay focused. This will also allow you to feel a sense of excitement as you get closer to your goal.
Achievable — Don’t make wishes! Yes, your goals need to be challenging but they still need to be attainable. So make your goals achievable. Don’t just sit there manifesting hoping they will come true. You need to put in the work.
Realistic — Be honest with yourself when writing down your goals. Are you capable? Do you have the drive and commitment? Do you have the means to reach your goals? Can you afford to reach each goal? For example, if your goal is to become a digital nomad then you need to have the money to sustain this lifestyle and if you don’t, then you need to make that your first goal.
Time-based — Put a deadline in place so you have something to work towards allowing you to be more efficient and intentional with your time.
Exciting — Your goals shouldn’t feel like a chore. You want them to be enjoyable! So set goals that are engaging and exciting for you. And learn to enjoy the process because that’s when the most growth and fun happens.
Recognise + Reward — Regularly review your progress and celebrate your wins — it will make the journey to reaching your goals a lot more enjoyable, plus you will gain more momentum when you actively look at results. And reward yourself once you’ve hit your goal(s) or milestone. If you make your goal satisfying in this way then you are more likely to stick to it.

5 | Break down your goals into manageable chunks

Another reason why many of us struggle to reach our goals is because of overwhelm.

Overwhelm can cause decision fatigue and brain fog preventing us from taking any clear action towards our goals. I mean hands up if you’re ever struggled with knowing where to start with one of your goals which then led you to take no action at all.

You’re not alone — it’s more common than you think.

So wave goodbye to overwhelm with this quick-fix solution… break down your goals into manageable chunks — a.k.a start small.

Turn your value-driven goals into simple, achievable actions that you can easily fit into your weekly or daily schedule.

For example, if you want to build a flexible routine, you might want to consider first researching tips and resources that show you how to do this.

By breaking down your goals, you can get clear on what necessary steps you need to take to reach your goal, making the process appear a lot more straightforward and less overwhelming.

I also don’t recommend going all in and trying to reach all of your goals at once.

Instead, stick to one goal at a time (start with the goal which will have the biggest influence on your life or other goals for that matter). And once you are consistently working towards that goal and overcoming obstacles more easily, you can then introduce a new goal into the mix.

Final thoughts

I can’t stress enough how important it is to set the right goals.

Don’t just set goals you think you “should” achieve because society tells you it’s the norm. Because if a goal is not something that you truly want to achieve you won’t be able to progress towards it or even reach it.

Instead set goals that align with the core of your being.

It is these value-driven goals that will serve as your roadmap towards creating a life you truly want.

A life that gives you real purpose and makes you excited to wake up.

It’s not enough to lie in your bed manifesting your dreams, in the hope that they will one day come true. You need to take action and this all starts with knowing your core values and setting goals that reflect this.

It’s also important to note that no goal is ever set in stone.

Things change and do evolve over time. And that is completely normal and ok. But by having a better sense of what your true values are, it is easier to stay on track and make adjustments as needed.

I encourage you to bookmark this blog post so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.

And if you need any more guidance, feel free to send me an email so we can chat about how I can support you further.

My inbox is always open.

Until next week,

♡ Thalia xx