Do your Goals Feel Unreachable? Here's Why

Most people chase goals — like losing weight or getting a new job — without ever stopping to ask: Are these goals aligned with who I truly am?

Here’s the truth: Goals are what you want to achieve. Values are what you believe deep down.
When your goals clash with your core beliefs, you feel uncomfortable — even guilty.

For example, I train because I believe in strength, but I used to think I had to lose weight to be “worthy.” Turns out, it’s not just about achieving a number — it’s about what I stand for.

It got me thinking: what if we approached our health, our work, even our life — not as mere goals, but as expressions of our values?

I want to share some thoughts that came from a recent therapy session — one that helped me separate goals from values. It changed the way I look at strength training, veganism, and my pregnant life at this time, so hopefully this conversation is going to be just as helpful for you.

Because trying to change who you are to meet a goal? That’s exhausting. But living in line with your core beliefs? That’s powerful.

What’s the Difference Between Goals and Values?

• Values are deep beliefs that form your identity. For example, if you believe in compassion, you may adopt a vegan lifestyle not as a goal, but as a natural extension of who you are.
• Goals are outcomes you want to achieve — like losing 10 pounds, hitting a new PR, or getting into a certain school or job.

Goals can shift, fail, or be adjusted. But when you act against your values, it hits differently. It shakes your sense of self.

Why This Matters for Your Strength Journey

So many of us chase aesthetical fitness goals because we think our worth depends on them. I’ve been there: training out of fear of being unatractive, that no one will love me if I gain weight, have any amount of fat around the belly etc. Then I realized that regardless of how I look it is my core value to be a capable, strong, independent woman driven by compassion for animals and empowering other women to show up for themselves.

So the agonizing attempt to always stay lean and look marketable took a side seat.

Тow, even while pregnant, I continue to train, eat well, walk my dog, and stay active — not for a competition, but because these actions reflect who I am. It's not "fitness as a means to an end" anymore. It’s how I live out my values.

Career Shifts & Living Authentically

I left a commercial construction job because it didn't feel meaningful. Now I create content to help women accept their bodies and help shift the gender balance in strength sports. This is not a "get rich quick" scheme. This kind of work brings me joy and a sense of fulfilment. It's not a career, but more of a vocation.

Final Thoughts

If you’re stuck in your journey, ask yourself: Are you chasing a goal or living your values?

Goals can motivate you short term. But values will sustain you long term.

What do you think?

Can you think of a time you compromised your values for a goal? Or vice versa? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear your story.