Why Goals Fail: The Roadblocks to Goal Achievement

There are two reasons why we fall short of our goals. Once you understand these two reasons and how they can work for you rather than against you, the path toward goal achievement will become more apparent.

The first reason goals fail is that our efforts are met by a brick wall. Too often, we set our sights on a goal and go for it, full speed ahead. But then it happens: we hit a wall, an obstacle to our goal that grinds our progress to a halt. This could be a lack of money or other resources needed to achieve the goal (such as the starting up of a business), lack of support for the idea from family or friends, or simply a hitch in our resolve to keep trudging ahead toward a seemingly unreachable goal.

Sometimes, when we are greeted by the ominous brick wall, we back up and take another attempt at surmounting it. Sometimes we make several attempts. If after a few attempts at making a go of a certain plan, however, more often than not we give up and put the goal on the shelf for another day. All too often that day doesn't come and our goal remains unachieved.

It is possible to climb over that brick wall. First, make a list of all the times you have made an attempt at reaching a goal. Beside each attempt, make a note of the reason or reasons it failed. By making this list and identifying the causes of the failures, you are allowing the issues to come to the surface rather than remaining buried in the back of your mind where you stored them after each failure. When you see the reasons on paper, you can then analyze them and start to think in terms of how to avoid those roadblocks the next time you attempt to reach that goal. When you know what not to do, it's easier to figure out an approach that will be successful.

The second reason that goal achievement sometimes falls short is that sometimes our goals are unrecognized. In other words, when we have a list of unrealized goals in our past, we start to believe that the achievement of goals isn't possible. If we have failed that many times in the past, why would we try again? It's only going to lead to more failure! That attitude is the second reason why goals fail. When we focus on past failures, we lose sight of the fact that we can achieve goals. Essentially, the subconscious slinks away with its tail tucked between its legs, resigned to failure.

The way to overcome this roadblock to goal achievement is to make a second list, this time containing all of the goals that you have successfully achieved. Applaud yourself for the things you have accomplished, no matter no small. Worked for that big promotion you got? Write it down. Lost those pesky post-baby pounds? That counts too. Anything that you have set your mind to achieving and have accomplished should go on the list.

Now, sit back and take a look at this second list. It's no doubt pretty impressive, if you are honest with yourself. What you should take away from this exercise is the knowledge that yes, you can achieve goals. Just because you may have failed at a few things doesn't mean you haven't done something right. And when you start to believe that goals can be achieved, anything is possible.

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