In this week’s episode "How To Stop Chasing Bigger", we looked at how the people in Haggai’s time slowed their own progress by comparing what they were building now to Solomon’s temple. It’s the same trap we fall into when we compare our current life to the self-idealized version we’ve been chasing — the one built out of trauma, performance pressure, and the need for validation.
Psychologically, this is about self-regulation and capacity-based goal setting. Research shows that people who set goals within their actual capacity — instead of aspirational but unrealistic targets — are far more likely to sustain momentum and avoid burnout. It’s the difference between building something that lasts and running yourself into the ground.
The Assignment
-
Name one unrealistic expectation you’ve been holding yourself to this season. This could be about how much you produce, how fast you move, or how “big” your results should look.
-
Assess it for sustainability:
-
Does this fit my current time, energy, and resources?
-
Would continuing this pace support my physical and emotional health long-term?
-
-
Replace it with a sustainable target that still honors God’s call but fits inside your current scope.
-
Act on it this week by making one concrete change to your schedule, workload, or commitments that reflects the new, sustainable target.
Why this matters: This is a behavioral reset. By replacing one unrealistic expectation with a sustainable, grace-aligned goal, you’re retraining your habits to match your actual scope — the same principle God was teaching His people in Haggai. Over time, these adjustments protect you from falling back into burnout and free you to enjoy the life you’re building.