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“What if the goals you set are part of the problem — and what if there’s a different way to think about outcomes that doesn’t box you in?” Dale Turnbull
In the video above, I share moments when “goal-setting” pushed me into resistance, and how I began exploring outcomes differently. Scroll down to the second video for a practical framework using Metaphors of Movement and the four dials: direction, distance, mode, rate.
Why Goals Can Be Problematic
I’ve noticed this again and again, personally, with clients, and in group work. Sometimes having a
goal feels energizing. Other times it creates tension, resistance, or guilt.
One of the first things I’ll often ask in coaching or therapy is:
“If you didn’t have this problem, how would things look?”
If a client can imagine that, there’s possibility. If not, change can become harder to achieve, I mean how can things change... if you can't see the possibility of that being a reality.
But here’s the issue: the resources people think they need (confidence, clarity, etc.) are often only the ones that they are conscious aware of. The deeper patterns, the stuck structures, often stay hidden. How easy can it be to stay stuck, if you don't know some of the details keeping you that way.
I’ve lived this too. In one development program, I set clear business goals: client numbers, revenue, outcomes. Halfway through, I realised I was chasing something I didn’t really want. No wonder I felt conflicted. The goal gave direction, yes, but it also boxed me in.
So yes, goals can help with clarity and possibility. But if they’re too rigid, or if they’re not truly aligned with you, they can be more of a hinderance and keep you stuck.
A Different Lens: Metaphors of Movement
Instead of fixating on an outcome as a rigid endpoint, we can explore outcomes through metaphor. There are 4 main axpects that contribute to outcomes in metaphors: direction, distance, mode, and rate. They give us structure to understand what outcomes are percieved as possible for a
client. This offers us the therapist a way to see how outcomes may be helping or hindering a clients situation.
Outcomes in Metaphor – Direction, Distance, Mode, Rate
In this video, I explain how these four aspects work in practice, to help you explore not just where you want to go, but how, how far, and how fast.
Note: Click the YouTube on the bottom bar to watch on YouTube
Four Aspects of Outcomes
| Aspect & What It Means | Idioms / Common Phrases | Useful Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Direction - The way forward - paths, choices, visible options. |
“At a crossroads.” “Going around in circles.” “I don’t know which way to turn.” “Heading in the wrong direction.” “Lost in the woods.” |
Lack of clarity in the "best" way to go -> Avoids making decisions. Uncertainty on how to proceed -> Startign somewhere helps |
| Distance - How far away something is. |
“Miles away.” “So close I can taste it.” “A long road ahead.” “Light at the end of the tunnel.” “Out of reach.” |
Too far -> possible discouragement. Close -> Possible pressure or immiment achievement. Lack of End point = Nothing to move towards. (why bother starting) |
| Mode - How you getnthere (walking, carried, driving, crawling). |
“Spinning my wheels.” “Treading water.” “On the fast track.” “Trudging through mud.” “Hitching a ride.” |
Reveals agency: are you steering, or being dragged? Natural vs. forced effort. Are they reliant on a mechanisum to progress |
| Rate- The speed of progress. |
“Running out of steam.” “Full steam ahead.” “At a standstill.” “In the slow lane.” “Going a mile a minute.” |
Too fast = burnout. Too slow = frustration. Awareness helps adjust pace. |
The Metaphors of Movement Personal Development Community
Now, looking at these four dials, you might already notice something important: each one doesn’t just describe where you’re going — it also hints at where you might get stuck.
That’s why I love working with Metaphors of Movement (MoM). The table gives you a way of spotting patterns, but MoM gives you the tools to actually work with those patterns in real time.
Every quarter, I run a Metaphors of Movement Personal Development Community. Over the course of six sessions in three months, a small group explores and enhances different areas of life together. And the results are always fascinating.
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I’ve seen people work on areas of health, discovering that their metaphor wasn’t about “fighting their body” but learning how to “be at home in it.” That simple shift left them happier and more at peace.
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Others have focused on finances, and it’s often surprising how the metaphor of “money slipping through my fingers” can transform into practical action, like finding new ways to hold onto resources, or noticing opportunities that arise.
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Some come in with an initial outcome in mind, but by staying open to what emerges, they end up making progress in areas they didn’t expect, because MoM isn’t about chasing a fixed goal, it’s about freeing up what’s stuck.
👉 If you’d like to explore this kind of work, you can check out the community here: Metaphors of Movement Personal Development Community.
Closing Thoughts
Goals can light up possibility. They can help you move with intention. But they can also lock you in, creating resistance.
With Metaphors of Movement, you don’t have to abandon goals — you just explore them differently. Through direction, distance, mode, and rate, you can keep taking steps while staying open to what emerges.
That’s your daily dose with Dale. Thanks for reading, for watching, and for being willing to lean in. See you in the next one.
