Daily English Pod

Don't share your goals

Jale Qaraqan

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Don't share your goals

When you share too early, you may accidentally satisfy the need for achievement without building the habit. That’s why many goals fade quietly after January.




Hello and welcome to a weekend episode of Daily English — where we try to grow, in English and in life.

Today, I want to share an idea that sounds simple — but is strongly supported by psychology and neuroscience.

We’re often told this: “Tell people your goals. Share them. Say them out loud.” The idea is that talking about your goals will motivate you. But research suggests something surprising:

 Sharing your goals too early can actually reduce your chances of achieving them.

Psychological studies show that when we tell others about a goal, and receive positive feedback — encouragement, praise, and approval — the brain reacts as if progress has already been made.

In other words, your brain gets a reward before the work is done.

This reward comes from dopamine — the same chemical involved in motivation and satisfaction. And here’s the key point:

 When the brain feels rewarded, motivation often drops. Because from the brain’s point of view, part of the job already feels “complete.”

Researchers have found that people who publicly announce their goals often show less persistence than those who keep their goals private and focus quietly on action. Not because they are weaker — but because their brains received premature satisfaction.

Imagine you say: “This year, I’m going to learn a new language.”People respond:
“That’s amazing!” “Good luck!”

It feels good. Your identity shifts from someone who wants to learn to someone who already is a learner.

But the hard work — the repetition, the frustration, the daily effort — hasn’t happened yet.

And now the brain is slightly less hungry to do it.


So why does this matter for New Year goals? The brain doesn’t clearly separate:

talking about a goal from working toward a goal
So when you share too early, you may accidentally satisfy the need for achievement
 without building the habit. That’s why many goals fade quietly after January.

Not because we lack discipline — but because we misunderstood how motivation works.

 A smarter approach (according to research). Instead of announcing goals early, try this:

 Work first. Share later. Let effort come before praise.

This week, think of one goal you truly care about.

Ask yourself honestly: have I been working on this — or just talking about it?

If it’s mostly talk, that’s okay. Come back to the work.

And for now, don’t share it with others. Let it grow quietly.

Quiet progress is still real progress.

Let me leave you with this:

 You don’t need to be seen trying. You need to keep going.

Thank you for being here today.  See you tomorrow.