Inside Mental Health

Crafting Goals That Stick: Your Blueprint to Thrive


Listen Later

Looking to turn your big dreams into reality? You’re not alone — and it might not be your willpower that’s holding you back, but the way you set your goals. In this episode, host Gabe Howard welcomes Dr. Ross G. White, clinical psychologist, author of “The Tree That Bends,” and founder of Strive to Thrive, to demystify the SMART framework and help you build goals that stick.

Together, Gabe and Dr. White unpack each letter of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-limited) to show you how to transform vague aspirations (“I want to get fit”) into crystal clear, trackable targets (“I will complete three 30-minute strength workouts each week for the next month”). You’ll hear concrete examples, common pitfalls, and Dr. White’s insider tips for aligning your goals with what truly matters in your life.

Plus, stick around for a candid discussion on why the “stay hard,” grit-and-grind mentality might be selling you short — and how a flexible mind can be your secret weapon for thriving, not just surviving. Tune in and start setting goals you’ll actually achieve!

“The mere ordinary seems to be resistant to going viral. It's only the incredible and the extraordinary that goes viral. So we are skewed in terms of some of the reference points that we have around what we should be capable of, what we should be doing, what we should be achieving. And that leads us to be highly motivated to try to make an impact, to establish ourselves. But it also then can tip over into threat if we feel that we're falling short, or that people are judging us for not being enough, for not doing enough, for not contributing enough.” ~Dr. Ross White


Our guest, Dr. Ross White, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast and the founder of Strive2Thrive, a clinical psychology consultancy firm that provides interventions and training to help individuals and organizations thrive. He is an expert in supporting the mental well-being of adults working in high-performance settings. Ross is the author of several books, including “The Tree That Bends: How a flexible mind can help you thrive.”


Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Inside Mental HealthBy Healthline Media

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

457 ratings


More shows like Inside Mental Health

View all
Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

Good Life Project

3,270 Listeners

Savvy Psychologist by QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Savvy Psychologist

1,373 Listeners

The Psychology Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

The Psychology Podcast

1,829 Listeners

Therapy Chat by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C

Therapy Chat

681 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,513 Listeners

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

2,462 Listeners

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

617 Listeners

Therapist Uncensored Podcast by Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

Therapist Uncensored Podcast

1,387 Listeners

The Couples Therapist Couch by Shane Birkel

The Couples Therapist Couch

267 Listeners

Inside Schizophrenia by Healthline Media

Inside Schizophrenia

190 Listeners

Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch by iHeartPodcasts

Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch

2,328 Listeners

Trauma Rewired by Jennifer Wallace & Elisabeth Kristof

Trauma Rewired

305 Listeners

Psychology Unplugged by Dr. Corey J. Nigro

Psychology Unplugged

691 Listeners

Adult Child by Andrea

Adult Child

1,785 Listeners

Inside Bipolar by Gabe Howard & Dr. Nicole Washington

Inside Bipolar

238 Listeners

Evidence-Based: A New Harbinger Psychology Podcast by New Harbinger Publications

Evidence-Based: A New Harbinger Psychology Podcast

50 Listeners