When you set a goal, you get excited. Depending on what it is, maybe you’re really excited. So excited that you wanna call up your friends, your sister, your mom – anyone to tell them what you’re up to and what you’re going to accomplish.

But…is that really such a good idea?

GOALS: SHOULD YOU SHARE THEM?

Sometimes we share our goals a bit too early in the planning process. It can feel good to know that someone is looking forward to seeing something from you or seeing you accomplish something, but it can also add pressure. A lot of pressure.

Especially if maybe that person isn’t necessarily looking forward to the thing you’re excited about.

The outside opinions always find a way to creep in, don’t they?

When you share your goals with people, you become vulnerable to that possibility of having your dreams rejected by the person you shared with. They could judge you, question you, or doubt you. They could try to make you believe that they know what’s best for you.

If you’re not doing anything unhealthy or harmful to yourself or others, keep doing you. It’s okay to brush of those opinions if you know in your heart that what you’re doing is right for you and your life. But if your only reason for pushing through and striving for that goal is to show the nay-sayers what you’re made of…you’re gonna need a better reason. Sooner than later.

It all comes down to this: what kind of accountability do you need?

Sharing your goals is a powerful thing. If you’re fantastic at showing up for yourself and powering through to meet your own expectations, share away. You know that the outside opinions can’t shake you, so do your thing. But if you’re someone who relies a little more heavily on external accountability, think about what sharing those goals might do to your mindset. If someone doubts you, are you more likely to give up?

If you’re unsure what kind of accountability works best for you, try out Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies quiz. You’ll learn if you’re more likely to thrive off internal or external accountability, or maybe a mixture of both. Be self-aware with your tendencies, and see how they apply to sharing your goals. Make the right call for you.

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Q: What did you score on the Four Tendencies quiz? Leave your type in a comment!