Discover how I transformed from perfectionist goal‑setter to lifelong happiness seeker—faith, health & family fueled my journey. Ready to be inspired?
How often do we define our goals?
When I was in my early twenties, I was a perfectionist and set new goals every month. I tried to cover all areas of my life and then evaluated how many goals I had achieved and where I was on my life journey. I journaled a lot back then—it was beneficial to some degree, but I always had a nagging feeling that something was off.
Over time, I noticed that I eagerly pursued the goals I enjoyed most, but procrastinated on the ones I disliked. Maybe I should have been more persistent and pushed myself harder. Still, after a while, I concluded that my system wasn’t working well and decided to take a break. That break extended—first a few years, then maybe even a decade. I think the disappointment and sense of failure threw me into the opposite extreme, and I didn’t want anything to do with goal-setting.
Now, looking back, I don’t think that was my best decision. At the time, I was too overwhelmed by everything going on in my life—especially caring for my two little children. By my mid-thirties, I began thinking more about my future and where I was headed. I don’t remember how the idea came to me or where I heard about it, but I started contemplating my ultimate life goal.
What do I want my life to look like? What matters most to me?
I identified one common denominator across all aspects of life: I wanted to be a very happy old lady! Yes—that was my vision of the future, and I was ready to do whatever it took to arrive there.
What did that mean in practice?
I concluded that many decisions I make would either bring me closer to—or push me further from—my goal. It meant focusing on a few key areas:
1. Spiritual Foundation
I wanted to be close to God, so that even if other areas of life faltered, my relationship with Him would remain strong. Because I saw this as integral to my future happiness, reading the Bible daily came easily. I haven’t taken any long breaks from it since then.
2. Physical Health
I knew I couldn’t be fully happy if I was often sick. I couldn’t help my family or friends if I didn’t feel well myself. While I understood not everything depends on me, I was determined to do my best. I went vegan for about six years, made tinctures, dried herbs, and used home remedies for my household. My health improved—I felt better and got sick less frequently. Still, I often felt low energy in the evenings and on weekends.
3. Weekly Fasting
A year ago, I started fasting once a week. This gave me a surge of energy and reclaimed my evenings! I finally had the capacity for basic evening chores like cooking and cleaning during the week—and it really boosted my self-esteem as a homemaker. I still caught seasonal illnesses now and then, but overall things improved.
4. Sourdough Baking
About six months ago, I learned the benefits of freshly milled flour and started baking sourdough bread. It wasn’t because I loved cooking—it was simply about feeling good and staying healthy. Since last Christmas, my family and I haven’t bought store bread. We only eat the healthy bread I bake. Now, I rarely get sick, and I’ve achieved the health results I hoped for!
5. Nurturing Family Relationships
Another crucial aspect of future happiness is my connection with family. Once I began picturing myself 20–30 years down the road, petty offenses lost importance. Issues that once hurt me seem insignificant when compared to the joy of keeping loved ones close. I prioritize my relationships and know that years from now, I won’t remember what caused conflict—it won’t matter.
So those are my thoughts on my ultimate goal. Many other things contribute to a happy life—hobbies, achievements, travel, and fun activities—but these key areas have truly transformed my perspective and life for the better.