Setting Goals

Let’s brainstorm what you would like to do by the end of your journey and write it down. Here are some tips for coming up with goals (view as PDF):

Goals should be specific 

Specific goals are clear and detailed. “Not being afraid” is not specific enough to be a goal. Think about the things that currently make you anxious. If you are afraid of being judged by others, your goal could be “not being afraid of what other people think about me”. 

Your goals should be measurable

Measurable goals are concrete enough for you to know once you’ve achieved them. Think about some things that you want to do, but can’t right now because of fear. If you are not able to join drama club because you are afraid others might judge you, but you really want to join, your goal could be “Join drama club.” 

Your goals should be achievable 

Achievable goals are something you can realistically do. If your goal is too easy you would achieve it too quickly, which will not help you in the future. Goals that are too hard might take too long to achieve, and you could lose motivation along the way. Some goals are impossible for anyone. If your goal is to “never feel afraid again,” that would not be realistic. 

Now, it’s time to write down your goals using the Setting My Goals worksheet. Setting goals is not an easy task! Your parent can help you decide on your goals to make them specific, measurable, and achievable. Also, remember that you can always be flexible. Later in the program, you will have a chance to tweak your goals to make them better.

Consider what you would like to do by the time you finish LUNA and write down your goals. We recommend thinking about what you put in the “Disruptive Parts of Life” worksheet. We also recommend looking at the “Tips on Setting Goals” figure. Talk with your parent to decide what goals to work on and how to make them specific, measurable, and achievable. 

Here is an example of what Sophia put down on her worksheet. You can also view this as a PDF. 

Sophia's Goals 

• Specific- Is this goal specific enough?
• Measurable- Is there a way to know once you’ve accomplished this goal?
• Achievable- Is this goal realistic, too easy, too hard? 

Goal 1: Be able to give a presentation in front of my history class this semester. 

• This is a good example of a specific, measurable, and achievable goal! 

Goal 2: Be less nervous when my after-school routine changes.

• This goal is not specific or measurable. It’s hard to determine once it has been accomplished, and it is not clear what Sophia will be doing. 

Goal 3: Never feel anxious in any social situations again. 

• This goal is not specific, measurable, or achievable. Everyone feels anxious at times so this is not realistic.