What if your goals are making life worse?

sent by Chris Dodson | May 29, 2025

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Most people set goals based on what they want more of.

But the happiest people?

They start by getting brutally clear on what they never want again.

That’s the power of anti-goals - a mental model that protects your energy, sharpens your decisions, and builds a life that feels as good as it looks.

🧠 The Big Idea: Anti-Goals > Aspirational Goals

We all know how to set goals:

• “I want to grow my business by 3x.”
• “I want to run a sub-3-hour marathon.”
• “I want financial freedom.”

But here’s the problem - goals often come bundled with hidden trade-offs.

A promotion might mean more stress, more meetings, or more time away from your family.

Enter: Anti-Goals.

A concept I read about in The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom, anti-goals are the opposite of what you want.

If the goals are your summit, anti-goals are the things you don't want to sacrifice while climbing towards it.

For instance, if your long-term goal is to be a CEO, your anti-goals might be not spending more than ten days away from your family per quarter, not allowing your health to suffer from increased stress or travel, or not compromising your moral code to achieve increased profits.

They clarify the non-negotiables that protect your health, energy, and focus.

🧭 Why Anti-Goals Matter

Because success is not just about what you say yes to - it’s what you refuse to tolerate.

If you’re not careful, you can end up:

• Building a life that looks good on paper, but feels like shit.
• Chasing goals that drain your energy and sabotage your health.
• Living by someone else’s definition of success.

Anti-goals create boundaries and force clarity.

💥 How to Put Them Into Practice

1. Write down the specific things that cause stress, frustration, or burnout? Example:
   • A calendar full of back-to-back meetings
   • Working with high-maintenance clients
   • Constant context-switching
   • Missing family dinner multiple nights a week
2. Turn those pain points into actionable boundaries. Example:
   • “No more than 3 meetings/day”
   • “Say no to misaligned clients, even if the money’s good”
   • “Block 90-minute deep work windows daily”
   • “Dinner with family is a protected time”
3. Use your anti-goals as filters. Every opportunity, habit, or strategy should be tested against them. If it violates one - it’s a no. No exceptions.

Performance Kit: Cadence Electrolytes

Whether you live in sunny Australia or overcast England, hydration matters more than you think. Most high-performers are walking around mildly dehydrated - and it’s quietly killing energy, focus, and recovery.

To stay sharp, I use Cadence.

Why electrolytes matter:

• Improve energy + focus without relying on caffeine
• Support nervous system + muscle function
• Speed up recovery after training or long days
• Prevent the subtle brain fog that hits with even 1-2% dehydration

It’s not cheap - but neither is underperforming.

Do You Need to Hear This?

This advice from Aaron Rodgers, NFL QB. 🤌

Mute the noise. Own the mission.

Ask yourself:

• Would I take advice from this person?
• If not, why am I giving their opinion oxygen?

33 seconds well spent 👇

Motiversity

You need to hear this today! ⚡️Speaker: Aaron Rodgers#motivation #mindset #inspiration

♬ original sound - Motiversity - Motiversity

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