--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once we reach our goal, we immediately…" description: "\"Once we reach our goal, we immediately feel compelled to set a higher goal. We're left in a vacuum of unfulfillment.\" — Jen Lilley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/jen-lilley-14969_compelled_once-we-reach-our-goal-we-immediately-fe_1294438.jpg" --- # Once we reach our goal, we immediately feel compelled to… ![“Once we reach our goal, we immediately feel compelled to set a higher goal. We're left in a vacuum of unfulfillment.” quote by Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/jen-lilley-14969_compelled_once-we-reach-our-goal-we-immediately-fe_1294438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/jen-lilley-14969_compelled_once-we-reach-our-goal-we-immediately-fe_1294438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/jen-lilley-14969_compelled_once-we-reach-our-goal-we-immediately-fe_1294438.jpg) > “Once we reach our goal, we immediately feel compelled to set a higher goal. We're left in a vacuum of unfulfillment.” [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving a goal often triggers the desire for a new, higher one, leaving a lingering sense of emptiness. **In simple terms:** Success can feel hollow without purpose. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond achievement. Themes ambition fulfillment goal-setting Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - creative pursuits - learning new skills Key Concepts psychology motivation existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What deeper purpose drives you? - How can you find meaning after success? A Different Perspective Higher goals may never satisfy deeper needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Higher goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-goals/) [Unfulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfulfillment/) ## Related quotes > [Even when it is not fully attained, we become better by striving for a higher goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/even-when-it-is-not-fully-attained-we-become-better-by-striving-for-a/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Do your actions in the world, without forgetting that your find goal in life is to break free from all bondage and limitations. Always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/do-your-actions-in-the-world-without-forgetting-that-your-find-goal/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [The higher goal a person pursues, the quicker his ability develops, and the more beneficial he will become to the society. I believe for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/the-higher-goal-a-person-pursues-the-quicker-his-ability-develops-and/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [If you discover that you're falling out of your own standards,.it can be totally depressing,especially when you've set them higher than you need them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joselle-alba/if-you-discover-that-you-re-falling-out-of-your-own-standards-it-can/) Joselle Alba > [Let me start with issuing you a challenge: Be better than you are. Set a goal that seems unattainable, and when you reach that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/let-me-start-with-issuing-you-a-challenge-be-better-than-you-are-set/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [Don't settle for less when you know you deserve more; set a higher standard for yourself. If they want to be in your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/don-t-settle-for-less-when-you-know-you-deserve-more-set-a-higher/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [I would have done higher than that... I would have set it higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-chapman/i-would-have-done-higher-than-that-i-would-have-set-it-higher/) [Duane Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-chapman/) > [Always set for higher standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk/always-set-for-higher-standards/) Idk > [I set higher standards than anyone and don't need anyone to tell me when I've played badly or not had a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-set-higher-standards-than-anyone-and-don-t-need-anyone-to-tell-me/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [“Strive hard to be among the top performers. To do this, create a standard. Go higher than this standard. Set another higher standard; surpass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/strive-hard-to-be-among-the-top-performers-to-do-this-create-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Set higher standards for your own performance than anyone else around you, and your only competition will be with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/set-higher-standards-for-your-own-performance-than-anyone-else-around/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [“Eating, drinking, and staying out of dangerous neighborhoods at night serve the higher goal of surviving long enough to mate. Playing nice with others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-t-kenrick/eating-drinking-and-staying-out-of-dangerous-neighborhoods-at-night/) Douglas T. Kenrick > [Who cares what people think. Keep striving towards the higher goal, the bigger purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-cares-what-people-think-keep-striving-towards-the-higher-goal-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can never be safe; I always try and go against the grain. As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-can-never-be-safe-i-always-try-and-go-against-the-grain-as-soon-as/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [To achieve a higher goal you must only act but also dream the goal..Not only plan but also believe that you can...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/to-achieve-a-higher-goal-you-must-only-act-but-also-dream-the-goal/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) ## More by Jen Lilley > [I do most of the cooking at home, and both my mom and my mother-in-law are excellent chefs. However, I wouldn't call myself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-do-most-of-the-cooking-at-home-and-both-my-mom-and-my-mother-in-law/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [If ever there was a proverbial truth, it's the more you give, the more you get. Give and start experiencing a life of fulfillment!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/if-ever-there-was-a-proverbial-truth-it-s-the-more-you-give-the-more/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I would love to have my own fashion line. I love modest clothing that's still flirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-would-love-to-have-my-own-fashion-line-i-love-modest-clothing-that/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [My life is, like, sponsored by Keurig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/my-life-is-like-sponsored-by-keurig/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I don't want to be the next hottest thing, I want longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-next-hottest-thing-i-want-longevity/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I feel like whether or not they admit it, everyone watches Hallmark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-feel-like-whether-or-not-they-admit-it-everyone-watches-hallmark/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I love being a part of Hallmark and being able to provide people with some sort of 'mini-vacation' from reality. It's fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-love-being-a-part-of-hallmark-and-being-able-to-provide-people-with/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I like psychological thrillers but when it's demonic, there's no uplifting message.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-like-psychological-thrillers-but-when-it-s-demonic-there-s-no/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I pursue God on a daily basis, I'm not stepping into oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-pursue-god-on-a-daily-basis-i-m-not-stepping-into-oblivion/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings, mainly for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. In short, it's modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/human-trafficking-is-the-illegal-trade-of-human-beings-mainly-for-the/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [No, my husband Jason is the sweetest, kindest, most secure man I know. Jason knows he's had my heart for over 14 years, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/no-my-husband-jason-is-the-sweetest-kindest-most-secure-man-i-know/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [But we're open to adopting any children that come to our door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/but-we-re-open-to-adopting-any-children-that-come-to-our-door/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [Let's say your child spills his or her milk, and it's the only milk you have left, and it seems you're at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/let-s-say-your-child-spills-his-or-her-milk-and-it-s-the-only-milk/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [Growing up, my family was like an unofficial foster home. My dad was a judge and my mom was a director of a women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/growing-up-my-family-was-like-an-unofficial-foster-home-my-dad-was-a/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) > [I beseech you to open your hearts and give back! Give your time/services/money/support/encouragement/love! Give whatever you can!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lilley/i-beseech-you-to-open-your-hearts-and-give-back-give-your-time/) [Jen Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) [Explore all 44 Jen Lilley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lilley/) ## More Compelled quotes > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. But let higher obligations of an international order be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-albert-gobat/ordinary-citizens-are-obliged-and-if-need-be-compelled-by-force-to/) [Charles Albert Gobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-albert-gobat/) > [Untethered technology gives us the freedom to do nearly anything, anytime, anywhere. It can also enslave us - we feel compelled to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-stone/untethered-technology-gives-us-the-freedom-to-do-nearly-anything/) [Linda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-stone/) > [He who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exemplify the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/he-who-is-required-by-the-necessity-of-his-position-to-speak-the/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [ I've written a lot of other books and this book \[Tears we cannot stop\] was different. I couldn't just say what I wanted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-ve-written-a-lot-of-other-books-and-this-book-tears-we-cannot-stop/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [See with what force yon river's crystal stream Resists the weight of many a massy beam. To sink the wood the more we vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/see-with-what-force-yon-river-s-crystal-stream-resists-the-weight-of/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“The more helpless she was, the more he would feel compelled to protect her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-helpless-she-was-the-more-he-would-feel-compelled-to-protect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love different sorts of people, their stories, all the different facets, that make them, them. This is entwined with how I am compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-cairney/i-love-different-sorts-of-people-their-stories-all-the-different/) [Gemma Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-cairney/) > [The most deeply compelled action is also the freest action. By that I mean, no part of you is outside the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-deeply-compelled-action-is-also-the-freest-action-by-that-i/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It's a mission for me to make sure that philanthropy doesn't feel like a vintage hand-me-down from mom or dad. I want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/it-s-a-mission-for-me-to-make-sure-that-philanthropy-doesn-t-feel/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [Operas elucidate, in a way sometimes absent in other theatrical productions, the very human fact that in every hero, there is a thread of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/operas-elucidate-in-a-way-sometimes-absent-in-other-theatrical/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/the-first-thing-when-i-read-the-script-is-that-i-need-to-care-about/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [God has not made this world to be a nest for us, and if we try to make it such for ourselves, he plants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-has-not-made-this-world-to-be-a-nest-for-us-and-if-we-try-to-make/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) Browse all 515 Compelled quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once we reach our goal, we immediately feel compelled to set a higher goal. 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