After Years of Reviewing Goals, We’ve Learned What Really Makes Them Stick

[Image] What Really Makes Goals Stick Hi, At LifeHack, we've reviewed thousands of goals over the years. Armed with research backed methods for action, willpower and motivation, we've advised our community on setting SMART objectives, planning milestones and identifying actions. Yet still, we noticed most people struggled with follow-through, especially by Q2. On paper, these folks had set great goals - clear, realistic targets supported with sound advice. Where was the disconnect? We realized the problem wasn't in the goals themselves, but whether they were set with conviction - an emotional commitment strong enough to persist through obstacles. And that requires answering some questions honestly with yourself. Sometimes being brutally honest. - Are you setting a goal for the sake of setting a goal? - How much do you really buy into this goal? - Who are you setting this goal for? Is it for the sake of someone or something else? That's why I want to introduce a little acronym that I use called "I.C.E." to help me evaluate my goals. Every great goal has 3 elements: - Intention – What exactly do you want to achieve? - Conviction – What are you willing to sacrifice and pay for it? How does this goal connect deeply to your spirit? - Execution – Actions and milestones to make it happen. We often think of paying our time, effort, money, etc. towards our goals. But at the core you know what it’s really about? It’s about how much you’re willing to pay with your heart. Paying With Your Heart "Paying with your heart" means an emotional commitment with an invested understanding in what you’re truly after. It means attaching deep purpose and meaning to a goal that fuels you from within. It’s honestly assessing and accepting what sacrifices you’ll make in terms of discomfort, pride, urgency and passion to accomplish this, no matter what. Because if this goal is truly meaningful for your life, it deserves nothing less. Your mind determines what you think, your heart determines what you do. You see, most abandoned goals never lacked the practical steps and plans. They lacked that raw, visceral, emotional charge. The type of heartfelt purpose that jolts you awake at 5 a.m. to put in work. Without that heartfelt conviction powering you through, even the most ambitious goals eventually stall when that initial enthusiasm fades. Relying purely on outward motivation and short-term urgency is not sustainable. But an inner fire is. That's why in our [2024 New Year Goals Assessment]( (for LifeHack All-Access members), one of the questions it express your top 3 goals via: By [DATE], I will [GOAL] because [MOTIVATION]. We're hoping this statement triggers you to connect that intention to genuine motivation and purpose. So the goal isn’t just analytically sound but also emotionally charged. So this year, assess what goals make your heart race. Do they have intention? Do they have conviction? From these two answers you can already predict 80% how they will turn out. Define objectives so meaningful that even anticipating failure hurts. Set targets that awaken your inner warrior, not just external ambitions that sound good. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes: "Do or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda Cheers, Leon Founder & CEO @ LifeHack [JOIN LIFEHACK ALL-ACCESS MEMBERSHIP]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( [Pinterest]( 2024 © LifeHack. All Rights Reserved. [Unsubscribe here]( Lifehack, Unit 33554, PO Box 6945, London, W1A 6US, United Kingdom