Here’s What’s Actually Happening:
You’re setting goals based on who you THINK you’re supposed to be, not who you ACTUALLY are.
And your brain? It knows the difference. That’s why the win feels empty.
🔥 THE IDENTITY WORK YOU’RE SKIPPING:
Most people jump straight to: “What do I want to achieve?”
WRONG QUESTION.
The real question is: “Who am I trying to prove myself to?”
Because here’s the truth bomb: If your goal requires external validation to feel good, it’s not YOUR goal.
💡 HOW TO DO THE ACTUAL WORK:
1. Interrogate the Goal
Before you set another target, ask:
👉Am I chasing this to BECOME someone or to PROVE something?
👉Would I still want this if nobody ever knew about it?
👉Does this align with who I’m becoming, or who I used to think I should be?
2. Find the Pattern Loop
You’ve felt this hollow victory before. Maybe different goal, same emptiness.
That’s not coincidence. That’s your identity trying to tell you something.
The pattern: Chase → Achieve → Feel Empty → Set Bigger Goal → Repeat
The fix: Break the loop by changing the source. Stop achieving for applause. Start becoming for alignment.
3. Separate YOUR Truth from THEIR Expectations
This is the hard part. The scary part.
Your authentic goals might disappoint people. They might not look impressive on LinkedIn. They might not make sense to your family.
And that’s exactly how you know they’re yours.
⚡ THE SHIFT:
Stop asking: “What will make me successful?”
Start asking: “What will make me feel like ME?”
Because success without identity is just a fancy prison.
And you didn’t come this far to live in a cage made of other people’s checkmarks.