Choosing Alignment & Joy Over Hustle & Struggle

Most of us have been taught to set goals the old-fashioned way: push more, aim higher, hustle constantly, and accomplish big goals now. But traditional goal-setting often leaves us drained, frustrated, and disconnected from what really matters.

At This Life is Good, we believe thriving isn’t about doing more or doing it faster—it’s about aligning your choices with your deepest values, finding joy in the everyday, and taking small steps over time in tune with the rhythms and seasons of life. That’s where the I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M. Goals come in. They're your roadmap for creating a good life without the struggle or the hustle.

The Five Obstacles That Keep You Stuck

If you’ve ever struggled to follow through, you’re not alone. Most people bump up against the same roadblocks:

  • Not having the right information – You feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice, or don’t know where to begin.
  • Not setting goals – Without clarity, you drift and stall.
  • Setting unrealistic goals – Extreme goals feel exciting at first, but they’re impossible to sustain.
  • Not having an action plan – Dreams stay dreams without structure and momentum.
  • Trying to do it alone – Isolation makes the journey harder than it needs to be.

The I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M. Goals

Instead of hustle and willpower, you need a roadmap rooted in alignment. Queue the I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M. Goals—eight ingredients in your recipe for a thriving life that keep you moving toward what truly matters:

  • 🍨 A scoop of Intention – Your “why” is your compass. When you know your why, every choice has meaning.
  • 🍨 A swirl of Commitment, Consistency, & Community – Small steps, repeated often, feel lighter when done together.
  • 🍨 A dash of Experimentation & Exploration – Stay open, try new things, and discover sustainable ways forward.
  • 🍨 A spoonful of Connection – With yourself, with others, with the world around you. Connection is the heartbeat of a good life.
  • 🍨 A sprinkle of Rejuvenation – Rest isn’t a reward; it’s essential fuel for clarity, creativity, and energy.
  • 🍨 A serving of Eating & Food – Food as nourishment and joy, not guilt or restriction.
  • 🍨 A boost of Activity & Movement – Movement that energizes and strengthens you—pleasure, not pressure.
  • 🍨 A drizzle of Mindfulness, Adaptability & Acceptance – Presence in the moment, flexibility in change, grace in acceptance.

Together, these eight ingredients help you create alignment, direction, and joy—the foundation for sustainable thriving.

How It Works in Practice

Each ingredient of the I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M. Goals directly addresses one of the obstacles that keeps people stuck:

  • Intention → replaces lack of direction
  • Commitment, Consistency, & Community → combats isolation and helps you follow through
  • Experimentation & Exploration → prevents rigid, unrealistic goals
  • Connection → strengthens accountability and belonging
  • Rejuvenation → fuels your action plan with rest and energy
  • Eating & Food → shifts from restriction to nourishment
  • Activity & Movement → makes exercise a source of joy
  • Mindfulness, Adaptability & Acceptance → helps you navigate change with grace

Examples in action:

  • Instead of “lose 20 pounds,” set an Eating & Food goal that nourishes both body and soul.
  • Instead of “run a marathon,” create an Activity & Movement goal that energizes you and brings joy.

When you filter your goals through the I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M. framework, they transform from draining or unrealistic into sustainable and life-giving.

Are you ready to turn your bland goals into I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M?

You don’t have to figure this out alone. At This Life is Good, skilled and compassionate professionals, including a health and well-being and lifestyle medicine coach, personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and yoga practitioner, will support you to create your own I.C.E.-C.R.E.A.M. goals—tailored to your life, aligned with what matters most, and supported by a community that gets it.

✨ A good life is waiting for you. Are you ready to start creating it? 👇

Still have questions?

Have a look at our membership page for more information.