If your goals don’t make you a little nervous, they’re not big enough.
We grow by pushing limits, not by playing it safe. Yet too many people set goals they’re sure they can reach—because deep down, they’re afraid of failing.
One thing my high school coaches did every year to make us better? They stacked our non-conference schedule with tough opponents. We played 3-5 games outside of our conference, and at least 2/3 or 4/5 were against powerhouse teams.
Some games we won. Every game, we were challenged.
Our coaches wanted to win, but the bigger goal wasn’t just a perfect record. It was to sharpen us for the conference season, the playoffs, and ultimately, the state championship.
They intentionally put us in tough spots to build resilience, skill, and confidence.
Most people today avoid challenges because they’re afraid they might fail. And if they fail, what does that say about them? The truth? Not setting big goals is the real failure.
If you only play “cupcake” games in life, you’ll never grow. Here’s why:
The Two Biggest Mindset Blocks Keeping You Small
A scientist doesn’t see a failed experiment as a personal shortcoming. They see it as data. Adjust and try again.
What if you approached your goals like a scientist instead of making success or failure about your worth?
It’s like a quarterback ignoring his coach’s advice and listening to some random guy in the stands who never played a down.
Most people critiquing you aren’t even taking risks themselves. Why let their opinion hold you back?
Small Goals Create Small Lives
If you only lift light weights, you won’t get stronger. If you never test your limits, you won’t raise them.
In the gym, you set a benchmark, train for weeks, and then go for a new PR. Maybe you hit it. Maybe you fail. Either way, you’re stronger because you tried.
Life works the same way.
Setting easy goals may feel good, but it won’t make you better. Just like playing weak opponents won’t make a team championship-ready.
How to Set Bigger Goals and Actually Reach Them
- Set a Goal That Feels Just Out of Reach If it’s slightly uncomfortable to say out loud, you’re on the right track.
- Make a Plan and Work It Daily You eat an elephant the same way you eat a donut—one bite at a time. 15 minutes a day on your goal beats 3 hours once a month.
- Reframe Failure as Progress Who you are isn’t tied to whether you hit your goal. The struggle makes you stronger. Growth comes from pushing limits, not playing it safe.
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Write it down. Use what you learn to set the next big target.
- What worked?
- Where did you fall short?
- What will you do better next time?
đź’ Final Thought:
A life filled with small, safe goals is forgettable. But a life chasing big, legacy-building goals? That’s worth playing for.
Easy wins feel good, but big wins change the game.
Because easy never makes us proud, Reader,
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