Life & Spirituality Success & Goal Achievement

Life Goals – Examples And How To Set Them

When you have a long list of life goals you’d like to achieve, you have more to strive for, and more opportunities to check those goals off your list. And the rush you feel every time you check one of those goals off the list will inspire you to accomplish even more of them.

Live Your Best Life From Jack Canfield's Weekly Newsletter

Sign Up Now

I’ve studied the science of success for over four decades now – and if there’s one thing I know for sure to be true, it’s this:

The only way to attain a high level of success is to set ambitious life goals for yourself and refuse to let anything stop you from achieving them. 

… Sounds simple, right? Yet so few people seem to be able to pull it off.  

The fact is, most people don’t bother to set life goals for themselves.

They’re too busy reacting to the “ordinary chaos” of day-to-day living to lift their gaze toward the horizon and plan for a brighter future. 

Even if they do set important life goals for their future, they lack the motivation required to keep going in the face of obstacles and give up when the first roadblock appears on their path. 

Or they set personal goals that don’t take them in the direction of the life they want to live. Their life goals list reflects what they think they should want to achieve (e.g., the big house and the dream car), rather than what they actually want to experience (more free time with their family and friends). 

I don’t want that to happen to you!

That’s why today I’m going to teach you how to change your life by setting and achieving life goals that will lead you in the direction of your dreams.

You’ll also learn how to identify goals for different areas of your life so that you’re able to experience more balance, harmony, and greater fulfillment in everything you do! 

What are Life Goals?

A life goal is simply something you decide you want to accomplish in your life. 

One of your personal life goals might be to get married and have kids. Or you might want to achieve a certain position in your company, write a book, start your own successful business, earn a six-figure salary, learn how to play the guitar, or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa! 

A life goal is a signpost that points you in the direction of your dreams. They’re an important part of your personal development because they give you a clear path on your journey through life – and that is incredibly powerful because when you know where you are going, the path forward will become so much clearer to you. 

As you reach each milestone and check it off the list, the rush of energy you get will gain momentum and give you the motivation you need to keep moving forward on your journey! 

Importance of Setting Life Goals

When you set life goals for yourself, you’re taking an active role in shaping your future. You’re no longer at the mercy of circumstance but the captain of your own destiny, moving forward to your desired destination no matter what kind of chaos is swirling around you.

Creating a list of goals you want to accomplish also gives you focus. When your goals are top of mind you’re immune from distraction and able to remember and appreciate why you’re expending your energy and effort toward achieving that particular milestone.

When you’re clear on your own list of life goals, it also becomes so much easier for you to overcome procrastination and maintain a high level of productivity. Your goals are what give you that extra bit of fuel you need to keep going just a little bit longer until the job is done.

Personal goal setting also allows you to keep growing, which is really what life is all about. A successful life is one of continuous, never-ending growth. 

And by setting goals for yourself, you have a reason to move beyond your comfort zone and continue to learn and gain new skills. Which ultimately allows you to achieve an even higher level of success and create a good life for yourself.

Finally, setting and achieving game-changing life goals can help you develop a more positive mindset about yourself and the world around you. Achieving goals boosts your self-esteem and grows your confidence in what you are capable of accomplishing in life. 

This raises your vibrational frequency and makes it easier for you to attract a higher level of people, resources, and opportunities into your life, which increases your optimism and helps you maintain a positive outlook.

However, not all life goals are created equal – or have the same kind of impact to help you achieve your dreams. Let’s take a look at creating your own list of life goals that will empower you to achieve success. 

How to Set Life Goals

Begin by making a list of major life goals you’d like to achieve for yourself. 

Be as specific as possible. 

Include details such as: when you’ll achieve it, where you’ll achieve it, how much you’ll make, what model you’ll buy, what size it will be, and so on.

Once you’ve created your own list of life goals, I encourage you to keep your goals somewhere you can review them often. And every time you achieve one of your life goals, check it off and celebrate what you’ve managed to accomplish in your life.

Here’s a short, seven-step process that’s a part of my proven success formula for setting and achieving game-changing life goals. 

STEP 1: Decide What You Want

If you want to fully activate the power of goal-setting in your life, one goal isn’t enough. Bigger future goals take longer to achieve than others – and if you spend years working toward only one objective, you’re likely to get discouraged when it doesn’t happen right away.

That’s why I encourage you to create a list of at least 10-20 personal goals that you would like to achieve in your life. 

You may want to start with a brainstorming exercise in which you give yourself 10-15 minutes to write down all of the life goals that occur to you – fulfilling career life goals, fitness life goals, financial freedom goals, and more. More is better!

These can be big life goals, such as traveling to 20 different countries or growing your own seven-figure business. Or, they can be smaller goals, such as taking your grandchild to a baseball game or learning how to sail. 

Whatever will bring you great joy and fulfillment to experience it. When you have a long list of life goals you’d like to achieve, you have more to strive for, and more opportunities to check your accomplishments off your list.

Plus, the rush you feel every time you reach one of those items on your life goals list will propel you forward and inspire you to complete even more!

STEP 2: Write Your Goals Down

To keep your personal goals top of mind, be sure to write them down – and keep your life goals list somewhere you can review it regularly and continue to add new life goal ideas to it over time.

This could be a “life goals” document file on your computer or in the cloud. Or you might want to put your life goal ideas on a deck of 3”x5” cards you shuffle through every morning, on a poster or piece of paper you hang on the wall beside your computer, or in a book you read each night before you fall asleep. 

The most important thing to do is to put your life goals list somewhere you can see it every day so you can remind yourself of the things you want to accomplish. 

If you’re a visual learner, you could also consider mind mapping to achieve your life goals. The more you visualize and think about your goals each day, the easier it will be for you to maintain the motivation and focus you need to achieve all of the items on your life goals list.

STEP 3: Find Accountability

Accountability partners can be an invaluable source of support for goal setting. When you tell someone about your life goals, it strengthens your conviction and determination to achieve them. Your goals become more real when you share them with others, and you hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability to achieve them.

I encourage you to look for an accountability partner outside of your family and romantic relationships. 

Choose someone who is also highly motivated to achieve big goals and create a good life and career for themselves, and who will enthusiastically cheer you on as you pursue your own personal life goals – and be prepared to do the same for them. 

The positive energy you and your accountability partner will generate through your mutual support of each other will help you stay focused as you work toward your dreams.

STEP 4: Break Each Big Life Goal Down into SMART Goals

As you decide which life goals you want to focus on achieving first, I encourage you to chunk them down into smaller SMART goals that you can achieve within the next few months to a year.

For example, if one of your big goals in life is to own a 7-figure business but you’re just starting out in your chosen career, you can chunk down that goal down into smaller goals such as:

  • Create a business plan
  • Build a website
  • Launch marketing plan
  • Get 5 clients
  • Reach first 5-figure month

… and so on. And as you define these goals, make sure they meet the criteria of being SMART goals

A “S.M.A.R.T.” goal is one that is: 

  • SPECIFIC: Be clear on the details so anyone can understand what you mean. For example, “write more” isn’t a specific goal at all. In contrast, “complete the first draft of my novel” is extremely specific. You know exactly what you’re committing to achieving!
  • MEASURABLE: Personal goals are measurable when you know when you have achieved them. For example, “lose weight” or “get fit” isn’t measurable because it doesn’t identify how much weight you’d like to lose or how to determine when you’re “fit.” Measurable goals would be to lose 25 pounds, run 10 miles a week, or master the “crow pose” in yoga. It’s easy to know when you have achieved goals like these!
  • ATTAINABLE: It’s far better for you to set realistic goals and achieve them than it is to set impossible goals that go unfulfilled. There is huge power in crossing personal goals off your list, so I encourage you to leverage that power by setting realistic future goals you can actually achieve within a given time frame.
  • RELEVANT: Some people choose to pursue personal goals that take them anywhere except the direction of their dreams. For example, they dream of living a life of ease and freedom but then they pursue a career that requires them to work 60 hours a week. Be sure to choose future goals that will lead you closer to the life you want to live most, not further away from it.
  • TIME-BOUNDED: The hardest personal goals to reach are the ones you intend to achieve “someday.” Because “someday” never actually arrives! The best way to ensure you achieve your goals is to give yourself a specific and realistic timeframe in which to achieve them. For example, if you want to write a book, commit to writing your first draft by December 31st. Then do whatever is necessary to make that goal come true. 

STEP 5: Take Your First Step

The only way you will ever achieve your goals and create the fulfilling life you dream of is to take action! You need to take that brave first step into the unknown… and then another… and another. 

It doesn’t matter how clear or ambitious your goals are, if you don’t take relentless step-by-step actions to achieve them, they’ll remain out of reach. 

That’s why once you’ve decided which goals to set for yourself, I encourage you to get clear on the first few steps you’ll need to make those goals a reality – and then take them!

This may require you to talk with someone who has already walked that road and experienced those accomplishments before you. Or you may have to do some research to get a better understanding of everything that will be required for you to achieve your goals. 

And that’s okay! 

Even if your first few steps are relatively small, they’ll take you closer to your dreams. And as you move forward, the path ahead will become clearer to you.

STEP 6: Dedicate Yourself & Stay Committed

Getting started toward your goals can be easy. But staying on track and continuing to move forward – even when you run into setbacks, obstacles, and distractions – is where most people fail. 

I encourage you to cultivate a deep sense of purpose around your life goals and use visualization and daily affirmations to keep them top of mind and stay focused on your end game, even when life gets crazy. 

When it comes to achieving your goals, the power is in your follow-through.

STEP 7: Celebrate Your Success

Each time you check a goal off your list, be sure to take the time to celebrate!

A big part of creating more success in your life is rewarding yourself when you prosper. Not only does it give you a sense of accomplishment and recognition, but the simple, enjoyable act of acknowledging your successes also causes your subconscious mind to say… 

‘Hey, I feel great and I’m proud of my achievements. Every time we succeed, we get to do something fun! Let’s achieve more, so we can have even more fun.’

So please don’t think that celebrating your achievements is selfish or a waste of time. It actually primes you to stay motivated and reinforces your subconscious mind’s desire to want to work harder for you. 

Life Goal Examples to Set for Yourself

In order to grow your personal life goals list, consider the different areas of your life.

Think about the specific life goals you would like to accomplish in those areas. Then, jot them down and divide them into the seven areas of life that I like to reflect on—financial, business & career, relationships, health & fitness, fun & recreation, and personal, and community contribution.

Here are some examples including a few of my own personal life goals examples to inspire you! 

Career Life Goals:

What big goals would you like to achieve in your business or career? Maybe you want to create your own business or become a C-level executive at an industry-leading organization. Write down every career goal that occurs to you. Be sure to specify how much and by when.  

For example, some of the big professional goals I’ve accomplished in my life include: 

  • Wrote a bestselling book (61 bestsellers so far)
  • Created my own seven-figure business
  • Became a master at public speaking
  • Launched a highly successful training certification program
  • Been a keynote speaker for audiences of 10,000+
  • Published 100 books (225 so far)
  • Spoken at the Million Dollar Roundtable
  • Sold 500 million books (my new goal is to reach 1 billion!)

Remember, no career goal is too small to include on the list – as long as it will bring you a sense of joy and accomplishment!

Financial Goals

What financial goals do you have for your own life? 

Perhaps you want to get out of debt, pay off your mortgage, generate $250,000/year with your business or earn enough money to grow a 7-figure nest egg before you retire. The clearer you get on your money goals, the easier it will be for you to achieve them.

For example, some of the personal financial goals that I’ve achieved are:

  • Made one million dollars in one year ($20 million best year so far, plus $20 million one year when we sold one of my companies)
  • Have $3,000,000 net worth when I retire (I have much more than that already)
  • Sold $20,000 worth of books and tapes at a live event in one day (I have sold $160,000 in one day)

When you’re goal-setting, remember to set life goals that are achievable but still require you to grow. Then, when you achieve them, use the momentum you’ve built to set and achieve even bigger goals!

Relationships Goals:

What big relationship goals would you like to achieve? These are some of the most important life goals you can choose. Don’t just think in terms of romance. Consider also your friendship and family goals. 

What relationships with family or old friends would you like to heal or improve? 

What new relationships would you like to cultivate?  

Here are some of the relationship goals that I’m grateful I achieved in my life:

  • Met & married the love of my life
  • Healed my relationship with my kids
  • Have a great relationship with my grandson 

For your own well-being, be sure to choose relationship goals not out of a sense of duty, obligation, or appearances, but rather to experience more joy and fulfillment in your life.

Personal Interest/Recreation Goals

What goals would you like to achieve to satisfy your own personal interests or desire for recreation? Maybe you want to learn a new sport or challenge yourself to go skydiving at least once in your life. These are also important goals for your personal development and happiness.

For example, I’ve always been very interested in traveling the world, and many of my life goals involve places I wanted to visit in my life.  

Here are just a few destinations I’ve visited from my travel goals list:

  • India
  • Bali
  • Tahiti
  • The Eiffel Tower
  • The Vatican
  • The Taj Mahal
  • Go on safari in Africa

Health & Fitness Goals:

How would you like to feel in your body, mind, and spirit? What health & wellness goals can help you feel this way? 

This might involve taking a yoga class, practicing mindfulness every day, memorizing the 108 moves of Tai Chi, maintaining your ideal weight, or committing to walking 3 miles every day. Do whatever will make you healthy, strong, and happy in your mind and body. 

Here are some of the health goals I’ve achieved in my life: 

  • Learn to windsurf
  • Learn to ski
  • Run a 10k race
  • Run 14 miles in less than 3 hours
  • Live to be 110+ years old

What health goals can you set that will help you live a long life and experience more joy and vitality in life?

Inspiring Life Quotes to Motivate You

As you work toward your most important life goals, you may find there are times when you need a bolt of inspiration to keep going. 

Here are some motivational quotes that will help you keep your purpose top of mind when your focus and energy are lagging.

  • “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein
  • “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” – C. S. Lewis
  • “If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.” – Elon Musk
  • “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.” – Andrew Carnegie
  • “You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.” – Edmund Hillary
  • “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland
  • “It doesn’t matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.” -Brian Tracy
  • “I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.” – Michael Phelps
  • “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
  • “Goals are not only absolutely necessary to motivate us. They are essential to really keep us alive.” – Robert H. Schuller

Feel free to write down any quotes that speak to you and put them somewhere you can see every day.

Create Your Life Goals List Now

In my life, I ve met many people who have achieved the highest pinnacle of success in their chosen professions – including Olympic and professional athletes, billionaire entertainment moguls, and world leaders.

Without exception, all of them had one thing in common: they all knew how to set ambitious personal goals and refused to let anything stop them from achieving them. 

Now it’s your turn. 

I encourage you to schedule time to sit down in the next day or so and fill out your personal goals, then put them somewhere you can see every day. 

Each time you achieve one of the goals, cross it off the list and celebrate! You will be amazed at how much it empowers you, as well as inspires you to aim even higher to achieve bigger goals in life. 

And if any of your life goals include having a positive impact on others, be sure to sign up for my upcoming free webinar, the “7 Pillars of True Life Transformation.” 

You’ll discover how to quickly remove the blocks, fears, and uncertainty that hold people back from achieving lasting success in their lives. (Plus, how to leverage these strategies to reach your career and financial goals!)

Meet Jack Canfield

For over 40 years, he has been teaching entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders, and people from all walks of life how to create the life they desire.

As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul(r) series, he's taught millions of individuals his modernized formulas for success, and has trained and certified over 2,700 students to teach his content and methodology in 107 countries around the world.