Imagine climbing a ladder. At the very top is your dream—a big, inspiring goal like “live a healthy life” or “find meaningful work.” But you can’t leap to the top in one bound. Instead, you climb one rung at a time. These rungs are the small, everyday actions that help you move closer to your big goal.
Goal Hierarchy
This is how goal hierarchy works: the big dreams guide you, and the small steps keep you moving forward.
The Big Picture: Superordinate Goals
The top of the ladder—those big, lofty goals—are what psychologists call superordinate goals. These are the “why” behind everything you do. Think of them as the compass that gives you direction. For example:
- “I want to be healthy.”
- “I want to live a meaningful life.”
- “I want to be financially secure.”
Superordinate goals are powerful because they connect to your identity and values. They aren’t about a single task or outcome—they’re about the kind of person you want to become and the life you want to live.
The Action Steps: Subordinate Goals
This is where the rungs of the ladder—the subordinate goals—come into play. These are the small, specific actions that move you closer to the big picture. They answer the “what” and “how” questions.
For example:
- Superordinate goal: “I want to be healthy.”
- Subordinate goal: “Take a 10-minute walk today.”
- Subordinate goal: “Drink a glass of water before each meal.”
- Subordinate goal: “Stretch for five minutes before bed.”
Finding the Right Balance
It’s not enough to only focus on the top or the bottom of the ladder—you need both. If you only think about your superordinate goals, you might feel inspired but stuck. How do you even start living “a meaningful life”?
On the other hand, if you only focus on the small actions, you might lose sight of why you’re doing them. Taking a 10-minute walk is great, but it’s more motivating when you remember it’s part of your bigger goal to be healthy and energized.
Dealing with Instant Gratification
Here’s the tricky part: life loves to throw distractions at us. You set a goal to eat healthier, but then a chocolate cake appears, whispering promises of instant joy. This is called temporal discounting—the tendency to prioritize immediate rewards over long-term goals.
Building Support Systems
Build systems that support your goals. For example:
- Keep healthy snacks easily accessible so you’re not relying on last-minute decisions.
- Set reminders of your big goals where you’ll see them often—a note on the fridge, a background on your phone, or a journal you check daily.
Making It Personal
To bring this idea to life, try this simple exercise:
- Write down a big, superordinate goal. For example: “I want to live a meaningful life.”
- Underneath it, list three small, subordinate actions you can take today.
- Call a friend to check in on them.
- Spend 10 minutes journaling about what you’re grateful for.
- Take a short walk to clear your mind.
The Bottom Line
Think of your goals as a ladder. The top rungs represent your biggest dreams, the vision of who you want to be. The bottom rungs are the small, daily actions that help you get there. To move forward, you need both: the inspiration of the big picture and the practicality of the next step.
Remember, it doesn’t matter how quickly you climb. What matters is that you keep moving upward—one small step at a time.