Using AgileBrain for Goal-Setting
At the beginning of each new year, many of us feel inspired to set fresh goals, whether it’s to exercise more, improve our careers, strengthen relationships, or prioritize mental well-being. We start with the best intentions—signing up for gym memberships, downloading budgeting apps, or making lists of things we want to accomplish. But as the months pass, our motivation often fades.
Most often, the problem isn’t a lack of discipline—it’s a lack of emotional connection to the goals we set. Are we choosing objectives based on what truly matters to us, or are we picking goals based on external expectations? Do our goals align with our unmet emotional needs, or are they surface-level ambitions that don’t address what we actually crave?
Understanding why we set goals is just as important as defining what we want to achieve. That’s where AgileBrain comes in. By identifying unmet emotional needs, AgileBrain helps us set purposeful, deeply personal goals that align with what truly drives us.
A recent study found that while roughly 38.5% of U.S. adults set New Year’s resolutions, only 9% feel successful in achieving them (discoverhappyhabits.com) Of those who make resolutions, nearly half give up on their resolutions by February! That means we tend to start the year with excitement and hope but struggle to follow through.
Why Traditional Goal-Setting Fails
One of the biggest reasons people abandon their goals is that they focus only on external results rather than internal fulfillment.
For example:
Most often, the problem isn’t a lack of discipline—it’s a lack of emotional connection to the goals we set. Are we choosing objectives based on what truly matters to us, or are we picking goals based on external expectations? Do our goals align with our unmet emotional needs, or are they surface-level ambitions that don’t address what we actually crave?
Understanding why we set goals is just as important as defining what we want to achieve. That’s where AgileBrain comes in. By identifying unmet emotional needs, AgileBrain helps us set purposeful, deeply personal goals that align with what truly drives us.
Motivation and Quality Practice Matter More Than Time
Many people believe that achieving mastery in any skill or goal requires 10,000 hours of practice, a concept popularized by Malcolm Gladwell. However, research has since shown that practice alone isn’t enough—intrinsic motivation is the key to real success. According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), people are more likely to sustain long-term habits and goal-directed behaviors when their psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are fulfilled (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Moreover, studies indicate that habit strength increases more when an activity is enjoyable or personally meaningful, rather than just repeated mechanically (Kaushal & Rhodes, 2018). Additionally, research by Ericsson et al. clarifies that deliberate practice isn’t just about time spent—it requires focused effort, targeted improvement, and personal motivation (Ericsson et al., 1993). This means that simply setting a goal isn’t enough—to succeed, we must ensure that the goal aligns with our intrinsic emotional needs, making it personally fulfilling rather than just another task to check off a list.
Why SMART Goals Aren’t So Smart
The classic advice given to people setting goals is to ensure that they are “SMART,” that is, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. On the surface, that sounds like excellent advice. The problem is that getting highly specific about your goals too early in the goal setting process risks the entire enterprise. If people are encouraged to immediately specify that, for instance, they will “lose 20 pounds by Memorial Day through changes to diet and exercise,” all the SMART requirements have been met but at what cost?
Goal setting always implies an economic trade off of some kind (time, effort, convenience, money, and the like); if this were not the case, we could simply keep adding ever more goals to the list. Before we begin setting specific goals, we need to consider the entire list of possibilities and options. Leaping into a SMART goal presumes that all other options have already been considered and prioritized, but is this really the case? What if, instead, we had a clearly structured system for setting those top level priorities so that goals could be set in a realistic context of our other needs?
AgileBrain: The Missing Piece in Goal-Setting
AgileBrain is a science-backed neuroscience exercise that measures emotional activation and positivity to help individuals understand their unmet emotional needs. Unlike traditional goal-setting methods that focus on external rewards, this 3-minute exercise helps individuals align their inner emotional drivers with external ambitions, making success more achievable and fulfilling.
The Four Emotional Domains That Drive Goal-Setting with AgileBrain
AgileBrain identifies twelve core emotional needs that drive human behavior, each categorized into four key domains. These needs influence how we set goals, what motivates us to pursue them, and what prevents us from achieving them. Understanding which emotional needs are unmet allows us to set intentional, fulfilling goals that align with our deeper desires.
Self Domain:
Needs for Stability & Growth
This domain governs our personal security, self-expression, and potential for growth. If unmet, these needs can lead to self-doubt, insecurity, and fear of change, making it difficult to set and commit to long-term goals.
How This Affects Goal-Setting
- If someone’s need for Safety is unmet, they may avoid setting ambitious goals because they fear instability or risk.
- If the need for Authenticity is unmet, they may feel pressure to create a goal to fit in.
- If they lack a clear direction for expressing their Potential, they may struggle with motivation, feeling unsure about what they want to achieve.
AgileBrain helps individuals recognize these emotional blocks so they can set goals that promote self-confidence and growth.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Material Domain:
Needs for Achievement & Control
This domain relates to external success, autonomy, and deep engagement in tasks. When these needs are unmet, people may feel frustrated, stagnant, disconnected from their work, or dissatisfied with their level of accomplishment.
How This Affects Goal-Setting
- Someone with unmet Autonomy may struggle to take ownership of their goals, constantly adjusting their ambitions based on others’ expectations.
- If Immersion is lacking, they may set goals but quickly lose interest.
- If Success feels out of reach, they may avoid setting goals altogether, believing they won’t achieve them.
AgileBrain helps individuals understand what truly drives their sense of accomplishment and how to set goals that align with their need for autonomy, passion, and measurable success.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Social Domain:
Needs for Connection & Support
This domain focuses on relationships, belonging, and feeling valued by others. Unmet needs in this area can lead to isolation, disconnection from relationships, and a lack of social validation or respect.
How This Affects Goal-Setting
- A person who lacks Inclusion may struggle to stay committed to goals that require community support, such as fitness challenges or networking efforts.
- Someone with unmet Caring needs may focus on external achievements but feel unfulfilled if they don’t have meaningful relationships.
- If Recognition is missing, they may achieve great things but still feel dissatisfied because they don’t feel valued.
AgileBrain helps individuals identify and prioritize connection-based goals that enhance their sense of belonging and appreciation.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Spiritual Domain:
Needs for Purpose & Higher Meaning
This domain governs our sense of fairness, ethics, and life purpose. When these needs are unmet, people may feel unfairly treated, morally conflicted, or aimless.
How This Affects Goal-Setting
- If someone lacks a sense of Purpose, they may struggle to find motivation for long-term goals because they don’t see a deeper meaning behind their efforts.
- If Justice needs are unmet, they may feel disheartened by unfair systems and hesitate to set goals they believe won’t make an impact.
- If Ethics is a concern, they may set goals but feel conflicted about whether they align with their deeper beliefs.
AgileBrain helps individuals connect their goals with their values, ensuring they set objectives that feel authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling.
Questions to Ask Yourself
How to Set Emotionally-Driven Goals with AgileBrain
Instead of setting goals based on surface-level desires, AgileBrain allows individuals to discover their unmet emotional needs first. When people set goals that align with what truly drives them, they are more likely to stay committed, experience fulfillment, and build emotional resilience.
By identifying which of the 12 emotional needs is most activated, AgileBrain provides a personalized roadmap for creating meaningful goals. Whether someone is working toward career growth, stronger relationships, health improvements, or personal fulfillment, understanding motivations ensures their goals meet the deeper emotional needs that fuel success.
Goal-setting isn’t just about what we want—it’s about why we want it. It’s critical to set goals that truly matter, stay motivated to achieve them, and experience long-term satisfaction.
Align Goals with Emotional Drivers
Once you understand your unmet emotional needs, set goals that satisfy those deeper drivers. For example:
- If your need for Inclusion is high, setting a goal to join a group fitness class might be more effective than just saying, “I’ll work out more.”
- If your need for Recognition is high, working toward a leadership role may be more motivating than just aiming for a promotion.
- If your need for Potential is high, choosing goals that involve mastering new skills rather than just achieving a financial milestone may provide more lasting fulfillment.
Stay Committed by Checking In
Because emotional needs fluctuate, regular check-ins with AgileBrain can help track whether your current goals are actually meeting your emotional needs. By adjusting strategies based on emotional insights, you can stay resilient and motivated throughout your goal-pursuit journey.
The key to successful goal-setting isn’t just discipline—it’s emotional alignment. Many people abandon their resolutions because their goals don’t truly meet their inner needs. AgileBrain offers a way to bridge that gap, helping people set, adjust, and achieve goals that promote long-term fulfillment and resilience.
