Help Me Understand

228. Why you set bigger goals when you miss the smaller one(s)


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You set a goal to work out three times a week. But after a few weeks of hitting maybe one or two sessions, you decide the answer is to raise the goal to five workouts a week. Sound familiar?


In this episode, Coach JK breaks down what he calls the 'goal-setting paradox' the common behavior of setting even bigger goals after falling short of more realistic ones.


He shares the concept of False Hope Syndrome, a cycle of overcommitting, underdelivering, and then repeating it with even higher expectations.


JK explains how this cycle erodes self-trust, why it shows up even in experienced lifters, and how to break free from the "just try harder" mindset.


You’ll hear research-backed insights from psychologists Polivy and Herman, plus actionable strategies to shift from inflated goals to habits that actually stick.



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    Help Me UnderstandBy JK McLeod

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