Low-fi life goals

ReachOut Content Team
Published 11 September 2023

Not everyone can be an Olympic athlete or a Nobel prize winner, but Angie argues that personal achievement is all relative.

This can help if:

  • you think goal setting is just for over-achievers

  • you’re resistant to the idea of goal setting

  • you’re struggling to recognise your own achievements.

Woman in black cardigan holding baby

What achievements?

I'm 20 years old, have two kids, and spend most of my time whingeing about how little work there is around for singers and how my family relationships have all fallen apart.

Sometimes I look at my life and think that I've done absolutely nothing. People I went to school with are doing all kinds of amazing things with their lives. Some are in long-term relationships and buying their first home, some are now assistant producers on television programs, or are competing in international sporting events, or are even halfway through doing medicine at uni.

Baby-step goals

In reality, every person achieves miracles every day, even me. The challenge is not just to see the bigger achievements as miracles, but the little ones, too. I set baby-step goals for myself, things that mean I have to push myself to accomplish, but not over the limit. Every time I succeed, I try something a little bigger.

For example. I hate cooking for my family, because everyone has different dietary needs. When I make a dinner that all of us can eat, I feel like I’ve achieved something huge. For some people, that may not be as important as getting into university, but it’s pretty huge.

Recognising my own achievements

At the end of the day, I have to be proud of the success I’ve had in my life. I may not be capable of achieving big things yet, but every day I succeed at all kinds of challenges. I think it's important to measure your achievements against yourself, and not against the people around you.

So, all my former classmates can keep striving for their medical degrees or Olympic medals, while I’m achieving ordinary miracles every day. Just because I won't have a medal or a certificate to show for it doesn't make my achievements any less significant.

What can I do now?

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Study, work and money
Setting goals
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              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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