Barriers to Women’s Goal Setting

There are three important goal setting barriers that women must overcome if they want to be a goal setting star! Here they are:

1. Women’s Goal Setting and Perfectionism Don’t Mix

Women’s goal setting requires that women overcome their need for perfectionism. Being a perfectionist and achieving big goals do not go hand in hand. In order to achieve big goals, women must let go of their need to be perfect. There are many pressures put on women today, – to have a great career, a family, to look sexy, and to please other people. I know I’m being stereotypical, but these are just a few of the pressures that women face and need to overcome in order to focus full heartedly on their goals.

For women’s goal setting to be successful, it is important to become aware of how perfectionistic attitudes might be holding us back.  Remember, your action steps and results need not be perfect! Just as our families, relationships, careers and bodies are not perfect, neither will the results of our goals or action steps be perfect. Get rid of the belief that things need to be perfect. There is no such thing. The key is to get your goals started, continue moving forward and don’t allow your less than favourable results to hold you back from taking further actions.

2. Don’t Allow Juggling to Distract You From Your Goals

Secondly, women are known to juggle many balls in the air – children, relationships, husbands, careers, care-giving, etc.  Women’s goal setting requires that you drop the Super Star mentality because you can’t have everything all at once. The key is aim for some balance, and to take small steps with your goals consistently over time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your dreams be achieved that way either. Start small. Can you find 5 minutes, 10 minutes or even a half hour to get started or to keep going? Your actions need not be significant, but they must be consistent. Take small steps and trust that you can move forward. In no time, you’ll build momentum. Just wait and see!

3. Women’s Goal Setting Requires Time for You!

Thirdly, women naturally face the barrier of taking time for themselves and their goals because they feel guilty. They focus so much on playing the martyr and looking after everyone else instead of themselves. Don’t feel guilty about giving yourself time to pursue your own goals. Historically, women’s identities have been constructed based on who they are in relation to others, and sometimes albeit on an unconscious level, we tend to still base our identity on external expectations and role/relational obligations.

Even as an independent women, I still find myself getting sucked into this mindset as well at times. I too have felt guilty for pursuing my own dreams, but in the end it is worth the effort. Everyone else around you will be happier in the end when you are happy as well, accomplishing your own big goals.

Those are just three of the barriers to women’s goal setting. Stay tuned for more, and I also invite you to leave your own comments as well!