Goal Setting for People Who Hate Vision Boards

By: Dr. Sue Paul, Sr. Dir. Well-being & Brain Health, Asbury Communities, Inc.

Guest Contributor: Whitney Hahn, Provoke Better

January has a way of inviting reflection.

A new calendar appears, routines reset, and a simple but meaningful question rises to the surface for people of every age: How do I want to live—with purpose– this year?

This question is at the heart of this month’s Ask Asbury campaign, where we pause to think about purposeful living and how our choices, habits, and priorities shape not just our days, but our sense of meaning. And while this month offers a natural starting point, the truth is this kind of reflection doesn’t belong to a single month. It can begin any time whenever we’re ready to pay attention and choose intentionally.

That’s why this conversation matters.

For many people, the idea of goal setting brings up mixed feelings. Maybe it sounds rigid. Maybe it feels overwhelming. Or maybe words like “vision board” make you think of scissors, glue, and expectations that don’t quite match real life.

The good news? Purposeful living doesn’t require crafting supplies, trendy language, or chasing someone else’s version of success.

That’s where Whitney Hahn of Provoke Better offers a ‘human approach’. Through a framework she calls ME-conomics, Whitney helps people focus on goals that align with what matters to them right now, in this season of life.

A Different Way to Think About Goals

At its core, ME-conomics is a simple but powerful idea: Your life works best when your goals reflect what brings meaning, energy, and fulfillment to you.

Not what you used to want. Not what you feel you should want. And not what anyone else expects.

This approach fits nicely with Asbury’s focus on purposeful living because it begins with reflection, not pressure.

Step One: Take an Honest Look Back

Before thinking about what’s next, Whitney encourages us to pause and look where we’ve been.

Ask yourself:

· What went well for me recently?

· What brought joy, peace, or a sense of purpose?

· What felt draining or no longer fit?

· What would I like to do less of moving forward?

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness.

With life experience comes insight and that insight is a valuable guide as we move ahead.

Step Two: Look Ahead With Curiosity

Instead of jumping straight into resolutions, Whitney invites us to imagine the future more gently.

Consider:

· How do I want my days to feel?

· What do I want more of connection, learning, creativity, calm?

· How would I like to grow or stretch, even just a little?

· In what ways do I want to contribute to family, friends, or community?

Purposeful living doesn’t require dramatic change. Often, it starts with clarity.

Step Three: Choose a Few Meaningful Intentions

Rather than a long list of goals, Whitney suggests choosing just a few priorities that genuinely matter.

These might include:

· Staying curious and continuing to learn

· Strengthening relationships that bring joy

· Caring for your health in realistic, supportive ways

· Giving your time or talents where they feel meaningful

Then ask:

· What’s one small step I can take?

· What would help make this easier?

· What might I need to say “no” to to say “yes” to this?

Small, intentional choices (repeated over time) add up.

Why This Approach Works at Any Age

This way of thinking about goals works especially well because it:

· Honors lived experience

· Respects time and energy

· Focuses on meaning rather than pressure

· Encourages intention over obligation

Purposeful living isn’t about proving anything. It’s about choosing how we want to show up today, this year, and beyond.

A Thought to Carry Forward

If goal setting has ever felt uncomfortable or unhelpful, consider this an invitation to try again (on your terms).

You don’t need a new year to begin. You don’t need a vision board. You just need a moment of reflection and the willingness to choose what matters.

Our thanks to Whitney Hahn of Provoke Better for sharing this thoughtful approach to purposeful living. If you’d like to learn more about her ME-conomics framework, you can reach her at [email protected].

Because living with intention isn’t tied to a date on the calendar; it’s a choice we can make at any age, at any time.