By Dr. Scott Zarcinas, Founder, 818: Unlocking Your Life

You can sometimes feel like you’re drifting, like a ship without a rudder.

Not lazy, not unmotivated—but somehow still stuck, not going anywhere.
Still circling the same questions.
Still chasing smaller goals that don’t really light you up.

Becalmed, in other words.

But here’s a reframe:

You’re not directionless. You’re just working within the limits of what you already know.

And that’s the real ceiling.

The Illusion of Progress

When you chase only what you know, you often end up running in circles—busy, but not really changing.

You might feel stuck not because you’re off-track, but because the track you’re on doesn’t lead anywhere new.

You’re doing the things.
You’re checking the boxes.
You’re following the path.

This is the illusion of progress.

The problem is, the path is too small to begin with.

And deep down, part of you knows that.

Why We Stay Inside the Known

It’s not because you’re weak or lacking discipline: It’s because there’s safety in the known.

• If I know how to do it, I won’t fail.

• If I’ve seen it done before, it must be possible.

• If I stick to what I understand, I stay in control.

These are powerful beliefs. They keep us safe, but they also keep us small.

They teach us to shrink our vision to match our current capacity instead of expanding our capacity to meet our future vision.

The Goals That Scare You

Now here’s the pivot:

The goals that really change you—the ones that wake you up—are the ones where you don’t know the how.

They sit just outside your knowledge, just beyond your current resources. Beyond what you believe you’re capable of right now.

And that’s why they’re powerful. Because to reach them, you’ll have to change. Grow. Learn. Let go. Get uncomfortable.

These goals force you to become someone new, not just someone better at what you already do.

You Don’t Need a Map. You Need a Compass.

So what do you do with a goal that’s bigger than your knowhow?

You don’t need a ten-step plan. You need direction.

You need a compass, not a map.

• A sense of what’s calling you.

• A vision that excites and scares you.

• A willingness to move forward even without certainty.

Because here’s the truth:

You’ll figure out the “how” as you go.

But only after you’ve committed to something bigger than your current level of understanding.

Only after you’ve made the decision to be that person you’re capable of being. When you’ve chosen to be bigger than you are now.

How to Spot a Too-Small Goal

Ask yourself:

• Does this goal feel like a box I can already tick?

• Am I pursuing it because I know how—not because I truly want it?

• Will I be the same person at the end, just with slightly better habits?

If yes, then you’re playing inside your current framework.

Which is fine—until it isn’t.

The cost?
You stay efficient.
You stay comfortable.
You stay stuck.

A Better Way to Set Goals

Here’s what works better:

1. Start with desire, not logistics.
   What do you want, not just what you think you can get?

2. Let the unknown be part of the process.
   Expect discomfort. Expect gaps in knowledge. Expect growth.

3. Commit before you’re ready.
   Waiting until it’s “clear” or “the right time” or “you have the money” is just procrastination in disguise.

4. Surround yourself with guidance.
   Coaches, mentors, communities—anything that stretches your thinking and belief system.

5. Measure alignment, not just action.
   Are you becoming more of who you want to be—not just doing more?

👉 Ready to Move Forward? Click here >>

You’re Closer Than You Think

Feeling stuck might actually mean you’re on the edge of something bigger.
Not failing, just outgrowing your current structure.
Not lost, just reaching for a vision that doesn’t have a template yet.

And that’s the good news.

Because when you stop chasing only what you know how to do, you start becoming who you were actually meant to be.

Need help expanding into that bigger version of your life?

This is exactly the work I do with my clients. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and step into your next level self—even if you don’t know the “how” yet—reach out here. Let’s build a direction that’s bigger than what you already know.

👉 Book your complimentary Discovery Session today and discover how personalised life coaching can help you achieve the transformation you’ve been seeking.