At the start of a new year, it’s easy to feel pressure to set big, bold goals.
I used to be all about the goals—writing them down, breaking them into steps, and charging forward with everything I had. But here’s the thing: year after year, my goals became a source of stress. If I didn’t hit them exactly, it felt like failure, even if I had made significant progress. Or worse, I’d hit my goals, even exceed them, and then find myself asking, What now? That post-goal slump can be just as discouraging.
That’s when I realized I needed a new approach.
The concept of milestones came to me one day while watching the high school cross-country team train in the field behind my house. Along the trails, the runners had set up stones to mark every mile. Each stone represented a personal best, a goal achieved, or simply a marker to cheer themselves on as they ran. These weren’t finish lines; they were part of a rhythm, a flow. They didn’t stop at one milestone—they celebrated and then moved on to the next, and the next, and the next.
Watching them inspired me. I realized that life doesn’t have to be a series of rigid goals that create stress and disappointment. Instead, it can be an infinite game of milestones. Milestones mark progress and growth without the weight of perfection. They remind us to cheer for ourselves, to celebrate how far we’ve come, and to keep moving forward.
Milestones are like markers on a journey. They remind you that you’re moving forward, even if you haven’t reached your ultimate destination. Unlike rigid goals, milestones create space for flexibility and growth. They help you celebrate progress and keep momentum, which is far more motivating than the fear of falling short.
This year, instead of setting goals that feel overwhelming or unattainable, try redefining success by focusing on milestones. Let’s explore three steps to help you create and celebrate milestones in 2025.
When your milestones align with what truly matters to you, they become more meaningful. Start by asking yourself: What are my core values? Whether it’s faith, family, growth, or leadership, your milestones should reflect these priorities. For example, if a connection is a value, a milestone might be to schedule one meaningful conversation each week with a friend or colleague.
Milestones provide clarity, but they still need action steps to bring them to life. Think about what small, consistent actions you can take each day or week to move closer to your milestone. For instance, if your milestone is to improve your health, your actions might include walking 30 minutes daily, drinking more water, or prepping healthy meals on Sundays. The key is to focus on manageable, intentional actions.
Milestones are about the journey, not just the destination. Take time to reflect on your progress regularly. Ask yourself: What have I accomplished so far? How have I grown? Celebrate the wins, no matter how small, and use them as fuel to keep going. Remember, progress builds momentum, and momentum leads to results.
When I think back to the cross-country team, I see how they build on their milestones. The stones they set along the trail aren’t just markers of distance—they’re reminders of effort, growth, and perseverance. They’re evidence of a journey that keeps moving forward, one mile at a time. That’s what milestones can do for us. They turn life into a rhythm, a flow, where success feels like part of the journey rather than a final destination.
