Barriers
Name one common barrier that can prevent someone from reaching a goal.
Examples: fear, procrastination, perfectionism, low motivation, lack of planning, avoidance, etc.
True or False: A first step has to feel challenging for it to count as progress.
False
Finish the sentence: “A goal is more meaningful when…”
Responses vary; ideally when it connects to something personally important or valued.
True or False: Missing one planned step means you failed at your goal.
False
Name one type of support that could help someone accomplish a goal.
Friend, family member, peer, professional, mentor, group, community resource, etc.
True or False: If you really want something badly enough, motivation should be enough to accomplish it.
False. Motivation changes; habits, planning, support, and consistent action also matter.
Give one small first step toward the goal “develop a better daily routine.”
Examples: choose a consistent wake-up time, make a morning checklist, identify three daily priorities, etc.
Which is usually stronger long-term motivation?
A. “Other people want me to do it.”
B. “This matters to the kind of life I want.”
B
You planned to work toward your goal three times this week but only did it once. What's a healthier response than giving up?
Acknowledge what was accomplished, identify what interfered, adjust the plan, and continue.
Besides another person, name something that can provide structure or accountability for a goal.
Calendar, reminder, routine, checklist, planner, tracking system, etc.
Someone keeps saying, “I'll start when I feel ready.” What might be the barrier?
Avoidance, fear, anxiety, perfectionism, or relying on motivation/readiness before taking action.
Someone's goal is to reconnect with supportive people, but reaching out feels overwhelming. What's a smaller first step?
Identify one safe person, draft a text, send a simple check-in, etc.
What is one thing you can do toward a goal even when you aren't motivated?
Take a small planned action, use structure, ask for accountability, follow a routine, etc.
What's the difference between changing your plan and giving up on your goal?
Changing the plan means adjusting how you reach the goal; giving up means stopping pursuit of it entirely.
What's one specific way you could ask someone to support you with a goal?
Responses vary: check in with me, practice with me, remind me of my reasons, listen when I'm struggling, help me problem-solve, etc.
How can all-or-nothing thinking interfere with reaching a goal?
A person may interpret one mistake or missed step as complete failure and abandon the goal.
Why can making your first step too big make achieving a goal harder?
It can increase overwhelm, avoidance, fear of failure, and make starting less likely.
What's the difference between motivation and commitment?
Motivation is the desire/energy to do something; commitment involves continuing to take action even when motivation changes.
Someone experiences the same setback three times. What might that tell them?
Their current strategy may need to change, there may be an unaddressed barrier, or they may need additional support.
Why might saying “I'll do it completely on my own” sometimes make a difficult goal harder?
It can prevent someone from accessing encouragement, accountability, resources, feedback, or assistance.
Someone has tried to accomplish the same goal several times without success. What's one question they should ask themselves before trying again?
Examples: What keeps getting in the way? Is the goal realistic? Do I need smaller steps? What support am I missing? What needs to change about my approach?
Break this into three smaller steps: “I want to become better at setting boundaries.”
Responses vary. Example: identify where a boundary is needed → decide what the boundary will be → practice communicating it.
Someone says, “I don't feel motivated anymore, so this must not be the right goal.” Challenge their thinking.
Motivation naturally changes. Losing motivation doesn't necessarily mean the goal isn't important; reconnecting with the reason for the goal and taking a small action may help.
Your goal was realistic when you created it, but your circumstances unexpectedly changed. You can no longer complete it as planned. What are your options?
Modify the timeline, make the goal smaller, change the strategy, seek support, pause intentionally, or reevaluate the goal.
What's the difference between someone supporting your goal and someone being responsible for your goal?
Others can encourage, assist, or provide accountability, but the individual remains responsible for their own actions and choices.