The Art of Compassionate Goal-Setting: Following Through Without Burning Out
We all talk about “giving ourselves grace,” but if you’ve ever second-guessed whether you’re just making excuses…you’re not alone. In this post, I’m sharing how I caught myself doing exactly that while working on my Capsule Cooking Mini Course — and what it taught me about compassionate goal-setting.
Over the weekend, I had to get honest with myself about something I didn’t want to admit.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been saying my new Capsule Cooking Mini Course would launch at the end of October.
It sounded doable when I first said it. And I fully intended to make it happen.
But if I’m being real, deep down...I knew better.
I knew I was enrolled in two continuing education courses that would take up eight hours of my time each week.
I knew my dad’s birthday and my husband and I's "togetherversary" were happening this month.
I knew my brother was moving back to town and that I’d be helping him settle in.
I knew I had bought tickets for multiple concerts and social events.
I knew my plate was already full...and I set that deadline anyway.
I did what so many of my clients do:
I overestimated my capacity and underestimated my needs.
Why? Because I wanted to prove I could handle it.
Because the desire to “do it all” still sneaks in sometimes, trying to convince me that this is what it means to be disciplined, driven, capable.
And here’s where it got messy.
When I realized I couldn’t meet that internal deadline without sacrificing sleep, sanity, or health,
I felt like I was breaking my word.
Integrity is one of my core values, and moving a launch date felt like betraying it.
But integrity isn’t about pushing through at all costs.
👉 It’s about honoring your values while you follow through.
And in order to honor that one value, I would’ve had to violate two others — compassion and health.
That’s not integrity.
That’s self-neglect dressed up as dedication.
So, I made the call to move my launch to November 17th.
Not because I’m slacking off or losing motivation, but because I’m choosing to align my goals with my actual capacity.
Because the truth is,
I wasn’t being compassionate to begin with when I made that commitment.
And that’s something I see happen all the time with the women I coach...
You set a goal — maybe it’s a new habit, a meal plan, a morning routine — and you swear this time will be different.
But deep down, you know your schedule is already packed.
You know your energy is low.
You know you’re asking yourself to juggle one more thing that doesn’t fit right now.
You call it commitment. But what you’re really doing is setting yourself up for a no-win situation.
And when you can’t keep up, you label yourself lazy or undisciplined.
You assume you lack willpower.
But really, you set a goal that didn’t honor your values — or your reality — from the start.
Compassionate goal-setting isn’t about lowering the bar.
It’s about setting goals that stretch you without breaking you.
It’s about staying in integrity with your whole self, not just the part that wants to achieve.
So, if you’ve been struggling to follow through with the goals you've set for yourself, here’s where to start:
1) Get clear on your values.
You can’t make aligned decisions if you don’t know what matters most right now.
Ask yourself: What are the values I want to honor in this season?
Maybe it’s health, family, rest, growth, or courage. Name them — don’t just assume this is something you already know.
2) Notice where your goals honor one value but violate another.
You might think you’re honoring discipline by sticking to a strict workout plan, but if it’s costing you sleep, connection, or joy — that’s a signal to reassess.
Ask: What’s the consequence of prioritizing this one value over the others right now?
3) Create a new commitment that’s challenging and compassionate.
This isn’t about making things easy. It’s about making them sustainable.
A compassionate goal invites growth — but in a way that respects your capacity.
So, yes...I pushed back my launch date.
And honestly? I feel lighter. Clearer. More capable.
Because keeping my word to myself doesn’t mean forcing a version of success that costs me peace.
It means creating goals that allow me to follow through without abandoning myself in the process.
If you’ve been white-knuckling a goal that doesn’t fit anymore, maybe this is your invitation to pause and realign.
Ask yourself:
👉 Where am I breaking my own integrity by ignoring what I truly need?
👉 What would it look like to set a goal that honors all of my values this time?
Because progress built on compassion lasts a whole lot longer than progress built on pressure.
P.S.
Even though the launch is delayed, you can still get on the waitlist for Capsule Cooking NOW. Waitlist members get first access, a special discount, and a bonus call where I’ll personally help refine your system.
