Intentions Over Goals: Why Hustle Culture Has You Burnt Out

Intentions Over Goals: Why Hustle Culture Has You Burnt Out

Let’s be real—goal setting is starting to feel like a scam.

We’re told to write down goals, chase them like hell, and never quit. But what happens when you finally reach the goal… and still feel empty? Or worse—when you burn yourself out before you even get there?

That’s what hustle culture doesn’t want to talk about. And that’s why I believe intentions over goals is a shift that can literally change your life.

Years ago, I chased every shiny outcome I thought meant success—the car, the bank account, the job title. I’d crush one goal and barely take a breath before setting another. I was always grinding, always striving… but never arriving.

When I finally hit the wall, I didn’t just feel tired. I felt disconnected. From my purpose. From my peace. From myself.

That’s when I learned the truth:
Goals aren’t the problem. The mindset behind them is.

Goals are about outcomes.

Intentions are about alignment.

When I shifted from chasing success to aligning with purpose—everything changed.

🎯 The Problem with Goal-Setting (As We Know It)

Let’s say you write down a goal: “Lose 10 pounds.”
You hustle. You restrict. You grind. You hit it.
Cool. Now what?

The high fades fast. And the hamster wheel starts spinning again.

That’s because goals live in the future—in what you don’t have yet. They create a gap between where you are and where you think you need to be.

Intentions live in the now. They’re about who you are becoming, not just what you’re chasing.

Goal: “I want to lose 10 pounds.”

Intention: “I take care of my body with strength and self-respect.”

See the difference? One’s about fixing. The other’s about becoming.

✅ Why Intentions Over Goals Actually Works

Intentions keep you rooted in the present.
They help you focus on today—not some far-off finish line that may never feel “enough.”

Intentions are sustainable.
You don’t have to hit a metric every day. You just have to show up in alignment.

Intentions are identity-based.
You’re not chasing the version of yourself you want to be—you’re living as them, right now.

✍️ How to Set Your Intention

Want to ditch burnout and reconnect with your purpose? Start here:

Step 1: Write your intention in the present tense.
Say, “I am…” instead of “I want…”

Step 2: Make it meaningful.
Tie it to a value—not a number.

Step 3: Back it up with aligned action.
Pick three habits that support your intention without obsessing over the outcome.

Example:

Intention: “I am building a business rooted in service and impact.”
Aligned Actions:

Reach out to one new potential client daily

Spend 30 minutes refining your offer

Post something valuable—not perfect—on social media

This process builds momentum. And momentum beats motivation every time.

🧠 Why “Intentions Over Goals” Is a Game-Changer

When you live with intention, you stop performing. You stop comparing. You stop chasing things that aren’t even yours to begin with.

You reclaim your time, your energy, and your peace.

So if you’ve been feeling:

Unmotivated

Stuck

Burned out

Like you’re doing everything right but still coming up empty…

It’s not because you’re lazy.
You’re just out of alignment.

💥 The Takeaway

You don’t need more hustle.
You need more alignment.

Start setting intentions over goals, and watch what happens.

Let go of the pressure to prove yourself.
Choose purpose instead.
Show up for who you’re becoming—not just what you’re trying to achieve.

And the results?
They’ll show up when you do.

🎧 Want more real talk on personal growth, mindset, and living from alignment?

Check out The Shuman Show — the practical playbook for navigating everyday life without losing your mind.