How to Set Ambitious & Achievable Goals!

Do you have dead people’s goals?

⏺ “I want to stop feeling anxious, angry, sad, guilty.”
⏺ “I want to stop making mistakes.”
⏺ “I want to stop being stressed.”
⏺ “I want to stop procrastinating.”

These are dead people’s goals.
While these goals are understandable, they can be counterproductive because they emphasize absence over action. Essentially, a dead person can achieve these goals by simply not existing.

➡ Only dead people never experience unwanted feelings.
➡ Only dead people never fail or make mistakes.
➡ Only dead people never get broken hearts.
➡ Only dead people are never disappointed.

Living people do sometimes. We all do. It’s part of what it means to be human.

When we set goals for ourselves that are impossible to reach, we inevitably fall short. We become disappointed, frustrated, and often overly critical and self-punishing.

So, let’s set up Living People Goals.
✅ Think about what you want, not what you don’t want.
✅ Focus on what you can do, not what you cannot.
✅ Shift your attention to actions that enhance your life and work.
These goals align with living a fulfilling, values-driven life.

🔄 Instead of “I will not be anxious anymore,” try “I will make space for this feeling, practice emotional curiosity, and focus on value-based actions.”
🔄 Instead of "I want to stop avoiding difficult conversations," try "I want to build my communication skills, listen actively, and express my needs and opinions more clearly."
🔄 Instead of “I need to stop missing deadlines,” try “I want to establish a project timeline, prioritize my tasks, and plan for potential obstacles.”

Reflect on your current goals. Are they Dead People Goals or Living People Goals? 💭
And remember: Never set a goal that a dead person can do better than you!


Let’s Talk

Are you interested in getting more clarity regarding your goals? Are you ready to build a plan on how to achieve them? Get in touch—we can discuss your needs and goals and find ways to personalize this process so you can get the most out of it.

Roxana-Cristina Petrus

Coaching | Psychology | Training by Roxana-Cristina Petrus, MSc., CPTC, ICP-ACC, ICP-ATF

I am a coach, psychologist and trainer with a background in cognitive behavioral therapy and transformative coaching.

Supporting and helping people is at the core of who I am. It is one of the qualities that I value most in myself and that I try to practice as often as I possibly can.

I believe in a world where we treat each other with more kindness, respect, and care. A world in which the majority of people feel connected, have meaning in their lives and are satisfied with the work they do. Over the past decade, I have been contributing to building this world in various ways through my work, but one thing has remained constant: keeping people at the center of it all.

I am deeply passionate about connection, learning and emotional health. I offer face-to-face & online individual, team and leadership coaching, training, and workshops.

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