Can your goals change? If you’ve been working towards a goal for a long time, and realize it’s not what you want, or that you simply need to change it… can you change your goal? And if you do, how do you cope with not feeling like a failure? Or what if you’re worried that others will perceive you as a failure, because your goal changed?
In this article, we’ll answer the question, “Can your goals change?” and discuss how to have confidence when they do. Because, friends, your goals can change and it’s absolutely OK!
You have the power
When it gets down to asking, “can your goals change?” it’s time to re-evaluate and review your power. Though life circumstances and experiences affect our perspective and views on life, you have the power over your life. Instead of letting other peoples’ opinions, or circumstances, stop you, know that you have complete power over your choices.
So the truth is… if your goals change, that’s ok. You are making personal choices that will influence your life. There’s a famous quote that “decisions determine destiny” and that is so true.
You have the power to make your decisions, and if changing your goals is the best decision right now, then go for it. Nobody else knows what’s going on with you, and they don’t know the whole story. But you know it.
And this leads to the next point…
You know what’s best for you
Because you know every experience you’ve been through, you have an idea of the path you want to take, and the things you want to do.
Many of us have a perspective that’s been skewed by heartache and disappointment, and sometimes we need to set boundaries for our personal health and safety. That’s completely ok.
You know what’s best for you, and if your goals change to align with the life path you want to take, that’s great.
Change your goals because you change
Changing your goals is a good sign. It means that you have changed.
Whether you’ve matured, realized who you are, found meaningful work, or purpose… that’s a great thing.
If you want to change your goals, don’t get discouraged. Evaluate where you are now versus when you set your goals. Have you changed since then? Probably. Hopefully!
Hopefully you’ve grown up and now have a clearer perspective on things. Maybe you’ve discovered a talent of yours or a passion project.
Never be afraid to start something new or change your goal because of the person you are becoming.
Don’t change your goals if you’re chasing a moving target
There’s a warning that comes with changing your goals.
Many people think that they’ll be happier if they do this or that. Trends come and go, and if you’re trying to stay on the latest bandwagon, your goals become moving targets.
You’re always looking for the next thing, hoping that it will bring happiness.
Don’t get stuck in this trap. Try to visualize what you really want in the long run, and keep your eye on that. If you get distracted by all the things happening and trying to fit in with others, you’ll chase a moving target.
It doesn’t matter what people think
Finally, stop worrying about other people’s opinion.
This is much easier said than done, but it’s possible. When you worry only about your opinion and God’s opinion of you, it doesn’t matter if you change your goals.
You know you’re doing the right thing, and even if it seems weird to others, it’s not weird to you. It makes sense… or it will make sense.
Also read: How to not care what people think
A personal example of not caring what others think
For example, I struggle with instagram. I am a published author, with a beautiful blog. But I don’t always know what to post on social media. Sometime during 2020 I decided to try a new strategy, so I changed up my social media goals and got to work on new posts for my instagram. I started this new thing, but then… I didn’t like it. The new strategy just didn’t really work with my branding and feed.
I decided to set new goals and try something else, which ended up working much better. I’m not perfect at social media (and I actually can’t stand using social media), but I have an easier time posting now. One of my friends messaged me and asked what happened to my feed. “It was so pretty!” she said.
For a moment, I felt very self conscious of my choice to change my feed. Everyone saw what I did, and they knew my goals and intention changed.
But… what did it matter? What mattered most was that I was happy with my feed, the new format I had going on, and the new goals I set.
Do what works for you, and don’t worry about peoples’ opinions. Because, remember: people will have opinions either way.
In conclusion
Can your goals change? Yes, they absolutely can, and it’s OK. In fact, you should feel confident about yourself when your goals change. That means that you are changing. You’re maturing, growing, evolving, making progress, and that’s awesome.
If your goals always stay the same, it’s a sign that something is not going right, and maybe you need to make some sort of change. But don’t fall off the other end of goal setting and change them all the time. Some people set goals and then chase after them like a moving target. This isn’t sustainable or necessary.
Trust in yourself, believe that you have all the tools and resources necessary to reach your goals. Furthermore, you have the wisdom and maturity to change your goals if you need to. You got this friend!
Also read: 5 Lies Holding You Back from Your Dreams
What are your thoughts?
Have you ever changed your goal before, and what happened because of it? How do you maintain confidence when your goals change? Let us know in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you! Mahalo!
Save this pin for later!
