--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Set goals that don't feel all that easy…" description: "\"Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge you, stimulate you, and give you a chance to stretch and push yourself. That is where the power..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg" --- # Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge… ![“Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge you, stimulate you, and give you a chance to stretch and push yourself. That is where the power of growth lies.” quote by Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg) > “Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge you, stimulate you, and give you a chance to stretch and push yourself. That is where the power of growth lies.” [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growth occurs when goals stretch abilities, fostering development and self‑confidence. **In simple terms:** Stretching goals drive personal growth. Key Takeaway Set challenging, rewarding goals. Themes growth challenge self‑improvement Mood motivational optimistic Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - skill learning - fitness training - creative projects Key Concepts psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What challenge will stretch you without overwhelming? - How do you measure progress? A Different Perspective Overly hard goals can cause burnout or discouragement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Push yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/push-yourself/) [Setting goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-goals/) ## Related quotes > [You can do anything if you set goals. You just have to push yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-mitte/you-can-do-anything-if-you-set-goals-you-just-have-to-push-yourself/) [RJ Mitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-mitte/) > [“Where you feel like really giving up is where your threshold growth lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/where-you-feel-like-really-giving-up-is-where-your-threshold-growth/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [I like to stretch myself and push the envelope, so anything that's new or different or not of my daily routine, I am so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-dandridge/i-like-to-stretch-myself-and-push-the-envelope-so-anything-that-s-new/) [Merle Dandridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-dandridge/) > [Hard work is the main thing-hard work and dedication. And I think a great part of it is goal setting. You set your goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-palmeiro/hard-work-is-the-main-thing-hard-work-and-dedication-and-i-think-a/) [Rafael Palmeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-palmeiro/) > [Stay motivated, set goals, have fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/stay-motivated-set-goals-have-fun/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [I do not see myself, I never make plans, I never set goals, and I never do that kind of stuff; I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-del-castillo/i-do-not-see-myself-i-never-make-plans-i-never-set-goals-and-i-never/) [Kate del Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-del-castillo/) > [“Setting goals is a crucial step in the achievement of success, however the outcomes may be varied if you set your goals not based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/setting-goals-is-a-crucial-step-in-the-achievement-of-success-however/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [A primary purpose for setting goals is to get you moving in the right direction. When you set goals, you have to keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/a-primary-purpose-for-setting-goals-is-to-get-you-moving-in-the-right/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [You will achieve grand dream, a day at a time, so set goals for each day - not long and difficult projects, but chores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/you-will-achieve-grand-dream-a-day-at-a-time-so-set-goals-for-each/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [It has proved politically wiser to set goals than to start programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/it-has-proved-politically-wiser-to-set-goals-than-to-start-programs/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [Set goals that are achievable. Bring about meaningful change one step at a time. Raising awareness is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spira/set-goals-that-are-achievable-bring-about-meaningful-change-one-step/) [Henry Spira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spira/) > [Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born. To be happy, we have to accept it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/nature-designed-with-a-random-set-of-genes-and-circumstances-in-which/) [Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/) > [I believe in the saying, 'If you aim at nothing, you're going to hit nothing.' So if you don't set goals, then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-believe-in-the-saying-if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-re-going-to-hit/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [What Fred Lebow went through was an inspiration for me. You have to set goals for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/what-fred-lebow-went-through-was-an-inspiration-for-me-you-have-to/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/set-goals-high-goals-for-you-and-your-organization-when-your/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) ## More by Nathaniel Branden > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [What a great teacher, a great parent, a great psychotherapist and a great coach have in common is a deep belief in the potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/what-a-great-teacher-a-great-parent-a-great-psychotherapist-and-a/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If we are happy within ourselves, we don't accept or demand that our partner should fulfill every need. We need to be comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-we-are-happy-within-ourselves-we-don-t-accept-or-demand-that-our/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The world belongs to those who persevere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-world-belongs-to-those-who-persevere/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Productive achievement is a consequence and an expression of health, self-esteem, not its cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/productive-achievement-is-a-consequence-and-an-expression-of-health/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Faith is the commitment of one's consciousness to beliefs for which one has no sensory evidence or rational proof. When man rejects reason as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/faith-is-the-commitment-of-one-s-consciousness-to-beliefs-for-which/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [In the nature of our existence, we must act to achieve values. And in order to act appropriately, we need to value the beneficiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/in-the-nature-of-our-existence-we-must-act-to-achieve-values-and-in/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I cannot remember a time when the question of why people behave as they do was not intensely interesting to me. The desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/i-cannot-remember-a-time-when-the-question-of-why-people-behave-as/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Suppose you feel you cannot accept some fact about yourself. Then own your refusal to accept. Own the block. Embrace it fully. And watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/suppose-you-feel-you-cannot-accept-some-fact-about-yourself-then-own/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Doing more of what doesn't work doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/doing-more-of-what-doesn-t-work-doesn-t-work/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“Out of fear, out of the desire for approval, out of misguided notions of duty, people surrender themselves--their convictions and their aspirations--every day. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/out-of-fear-out-of-the-desire-for-approval-out-of-misguided-notions/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-would-be-hard-to-name-a-more-certain-sign-of-poor-self-esteem-than/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [When we bury our feelings, we also bury ourselves. It means we exist in a state of alienation. We rarely know it, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/when-we-bury-our-feelings-we-also-bury-ourselves-it-means-we-exist-in/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Explore all 183 Nathaniel Branden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) Whitney Gaskell > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge you, stimulate you, and give you a chance to stretch and push yourself. That is where the power of growth lies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathaniel Branden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy-that-challenge-you-stimulate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy-that-challenge-you-stimulate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/nathaniel-branden-2125_challenges_set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy_938179.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge you, stimulate you, and give you a chance to stretch…” — Nathaniel Branden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nathaniel Branden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Set goals that don't feel all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy-that-challenge-you-stimulate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/set-goals-that-don-t-feel-all-that-easy-that-challenge-you-stimulate/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```