Goal Setting Challenges Around the World

Goal Setting Challenges Around the World: Stories from Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Cuba

Goal setting is an essential part of personal and professional growth, yet many people worldwide struggle with it. After traveling through Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Cuba, we gathered stories from individuals who shared their challenges and insights. Each country revealed unique cultural, social, and personal factors that affect how people approach setting and achieving goals. This brief exploration is supported by psychological research that highlights why goal setting can be difficult and what can be done to improve it.

Canada: Overwhelmed by Options

In Canada, we met university students and professionals who often felt overwhelmed by the number of choices and opportunities available to them. One student from Toronto explained, “I want to do everything—travel, get a degree, start a business. But having too many goals makes me freeze.” This sense of being paralyzed by too many options is a known phenomenon called “choice overload”. According to a study by Iyengar & Lepper (2000), when people are presented with too many options, they are less likely to make a decision or follow through.

Jamaica: Lack of Resources

In Jamaica, several young people shared stories of ambition but highlighted that limited access to resources—such as education, mentorship, and stable income—hindered their ability to set realistic or long-term goals. One aspiring entrepreneur in Kingston said, “I know what I want, but I can’t afford to chase it right now.” The challenge here isn’t a lack of ambition, but the socio-economic environment. Research by Locke & Latham (2002) on goal-setting theory confirms that goals must be realistic and supported by external resources in order to be effective.

Costa Rica: Balancing Pura Vida with Ambition

Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” lifestyle encourages a laid-back, present-focused way of living. While this promotes mental well-being, some Costa Ricans told us they struggled to stay committed to long-term goals. A local teacher in San José shared, “We love to enjoy the moment, but it’s hard to stay focused on goals that feel far away.” According to research by Hofstede Insights, Costa Rica scores high on indulgence and lower on long-term orientation, suggesting that cultural values can shape how people prioritize goals.

Cuba: Limited Opportunities, Strong Hope

In Cuba, many individuals set goals with a strong sense of hope despite facing political and economic restrictions. A young artist in Havana explained, “We are taught to adapt, not to dream too big, but we still dream.” Their goal-setting process is often inward and driven by personal meaning rather than external rewards. This aligns with self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), which suggests that people are more likely to achieve goals that are aligned with their internal values and autonomy.

Conclusion

Across all four countries, people are passionate about self-improvement but face unique challenges: too many options in Canada, limited resources in Jamaica, cultural pace in Costa Rica, and restrictions in Cuba. According to research from Locke & Latham (2002), effective goals are specific, challenging, and achievable within one’s environment. Recognizing and adjusting to cultural and personal contexts can help people everywhere overcome the barriers to meaningful goal setting.