How to Make Space for the Big Goals You Actually Want

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With my members of my Clutter Clear Your Life community, we toss around the term BHAG a lot – Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals.

Yes, it originally came from Jim Collins’ book Built to Last, where it was used to describe bold, long-term business visions.

Very boardroom. Very corporate. Very… not the whole story.

Because BHAGs aren’t just for companies. They’re for humans.

Your BHAG might be:

• paying off debt,
• finding your person,
• losing weight,
• traveling the world, or
• leaving a soul-sucking job
• or finally admitting that dream you’ve been downplaying because it feels “too much.”

What’s Really Blocking Your Big Goals?

Here’s the thing most people miss: The thing blocking your BHAG is almost never what you think it is.

We all hit obstacles while chasing big dreams. But most of those obstacles? That’s clutter. And clutter can always be cleared.

The real work is figuring out whether what you’re pointing at is the actual problem… or just a symptom. Let me show you what I mean.

A Real-Life Example of What Was Actually Blocking Her Goals

I once worked with a client – let’s call her Meredith – whose BHAG was to work less, find love, and build a life that felt calm and connected. We successfully reduced her work hours, but her dating life was a parade of disappointments. One dud after another.

She was doing “all the right things.”

Dating apps. Saying yes to invitations. Getting crystal clear on what she wanted in a partner.

Nothing changed.

She was convinced work had been the blocker. But even with more free time, her love life stayed stuck.

That’s when I asked a question that stopped her cold: “Is there anyone in your life who’s taking up a lot of space? Someone who has unlimited access to your time and energy?”

Without missing a beat, she said, “My mom. She calls constantly. And she shows up whenever she wants.”

Ah. There it is. Meredith didn’t have a dating problem. She had a space problem.

Once we got clear on what kind of relationship Meredith actually wanted with her mom – and gave her language she could use without guilt, panic, or emotional gymnastics – she set some loving but firm boundaries.

The result?
More energy.
More breathing room.
More space for her life.

Not long after that, she met her now-husband. And yes, it really did unfold that cleanly once the clutter was addressed.

Why the Thing You Think Is the Problem Usually Isn’t

This is why I say clutter is sneaky. It disguises itself as productivity issues, time shortages, confidence problems, or “bad luck.”
But underneath?

It’s usually unclaimed space. Unspoken boundaries. Old patterns running the show.

Meredith thought she worked too much. In reality, there was no room in her life for the relationship she wanted.

I see stories like this all the time. And I know, without question, that whatever your BHAG is, it’s possible for you too. So I’ll leave you with this:

• What clutter do you think is in your way?
• And what might be hiding underneath that?

That’s where the magic starts.

I wish you space and clarity,