Signs that goals are the cause of your anxiety and how to deal with it

We are often pushed to find our vocation or a meaningful life in the modern world. This pressure can be worrying, especially if you feel you’re not on the “right” path. This condition often causes you to feel like you’re constantly failing. But how do you know if you’re feeling anxious about goals and finding them? Here are five signs to help you sort out your feelings and reconsider your views.

5 signs that goals are the cause of your anxiety and how to manage it

1. You’re constantly changing jobs, but you still don’t feel satisfied

Frequent job changes are not always bad in themselves — they can be a way to gain new experience, improve your financial situation, or find a more suitable field. In addition, you can never be sure that the expectations after reading the next job will correspond to real working conditions. However, if you constantly look for the “perfect” job but still don’t feel satisfied, this may be a sign of anxiety about the goal.

Many people mistakenly think the goal is external: a position, salary, or status that will suddenly bring happiness. However, it is entirely different from what can easily be found in the job description. It is created through your interaction with work and life in general.

Instead of wondering if your current job is “the one,” ask yourself: What brings you joy and energy? Do you have any activities outside of work that fill your life with light? If your job seems pointless, it’s not about the job itself but how you feel about it. Sometimes, it’s worth not looking for a new place but changing your attitude to what you already have.

2. You have impostor syndrome

Have you ever felt that your achievements are just luck and that sooner or later, others will “discover” your incompetence? This phenomenon is known as impostor syndrome, common in successful people. But at the same time, it can reflect the anxiety arising from the goals. Anxiety often occurs when your current role does not match your actual values or passions.

Instead of asking if you are good enough for this goal, try to reformulate the question: Is this goal good enough for me? If you constantly feel out of place, perhaps the problem is not with you but with your energy being directed in the wrong direction.

3. You’re constantly comparing yourself to other people

Social media and professional platforms make comparing yourself to other people almost inevitable. Suppose you notice that you feel envious now and then when looking at other people’s successes or think that you are falling behind; this may be a sign of concern about the goal. The comparison makes us think that someone else’s path should be ours or that it is the only right decision to strive for. But the goal is deeply personal.

What brings satisfaction to some people may be entirely useless for others. You must admit that if a naturally creative person is forced to do monotonous work all his life, saying that it is “right and successful,” he will be unhappy and unable to unleash all his talents to the fullest. Instead of looking at other people and their experiences, focus on yourself.

Think about what activities energize you, and what you would strive for without external pressure. Regardless of society’s expectations, it’s also important to consider what success means to you. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Remember: your path is unique, so comparing yourself to others is like trying to put on someone else’s shoes. You’d better create your road.

4. You are prone to “nihilism of purpose”

Sometimes disappointment in the search for meaning in life leads to an extreme reaction, rejecting the idea that one should strive for something. This condition can be called “nihilism of purpose.” You may think that the search for passion in life is complete nonsense and that it is just a series of endless tasks with no “high meaning.” But still, it is not so. People with a strong sense of purpose are likelier to feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled.

And it doesn’t matter if this goal is global, like gaining worldwide recognition or something insignificant. Giving up on the search for meaning and purpose in life can lead to feelings of emptiness, anxiety, and even depression. And what is remarkable: you seem to be distancing yourself from what is causing anxiety, but in fact, you are only making it worse.

Instead of rejecting the idea of a goal, try to rethink it. Realize that a goal is not one grand mission but many small steps to improve your life. You don’t have to look for it — you can create it through actions that bring you joy. Besides, goals can change over time, and that’s okay because you’re developing and growing mentally.

5.You believe in the myth of the “One True Goal”

Many people believe everyone has a single purpose, and your existence will be meaningless if you don’t find it. This approach only increases anxiety and prevents you from developing and learning something new. The goal is not static and unchanging. It can manifest itself in different areas: work, relationships, hobbies, or even small daily joys.

If you used to strive for something but realized that this is no longer what you would like to achieve, you can quite reasonably give it up and start earning something else. Instead of looking for one overarching goal, ask yourself: What activities make me feel alive? How can I incorporate more of these moments into my life? What small steps can I take to create meaning here and now?