Why SMART goals are not working for you

So you tried using SMART goals and they are not working for you. Now what?

Using SMART goals is a very common approach to achieving what you want, and recommended by coaches. SMART stands for Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Time-Bound. The idea is that you map your goals out in a specific way and then follow through step by step.

Photo by Boys in Bristol Photography on Unsplash

This approach works very well when: 

• You know what you want
• There is a fairly clear path to getting it
• You have a good amount of control over your life, work, circumstances, etc.
• You have good discipline or you are working towards developing it

But SMART goals can be terrible for people who are in the midst of deep, soulful change, such as when you feel you don’t like what you are doing anymore but you are not sure about what you want to do next. 

Or when you feel something inside of you is shifting, and the old “you” is dying to make room for something more authentic that wants to be born.

Or when you are in the midst of so much outside change, it’s difficult to find your bearings.

Or when you don’t have a handle on your workflow and cannot stay focused or follow through, no matter how many lists you make

What then?

The first step is to recognize that you are trying to use the wrong tool for you in this moment of time.

If SMART goals are not working for you and you recognize yourself in one of the situations I listed above, consider that what you need is to open up space to reconnect with your own inner knowing. And then to learn how to take action from a more freeing place of Wisdom, in a way that is aligned with your deepest needs and desires. You need to get back into the flow of Life.

Then, at some point, SMART goals might work for you. Or you might learn a more effective way to get things done. Or you might even invent a whole new approach!

Liberate your genius. Let yourSelf Be. Open up to Your Wisdom. Take action. And Life will transform.