I Thought Hitting My Goals Would Feel Different

I Thought Hitting My Goals Would Feel Different

From Seeing Other People by Ilana Dunn

May 21, 2026 · 48 min · Episode 603

About this episode

Ilana Dunn reflects on the misconceptions surrounding personal achievements and the internal changes they bring.

For so much of my life, I thought certain milestones would fundamentally change me. The relationship, the career growth, the apartment, the race finish line, the goals I spent years chasing. I thought I’d feel more confident, more secure, more fulfilled once I finally got there. But lately, I’ve been realizing how no achievement permanently changes your internal world the way we expect it to. In this solo episode, I’m talking about achievement comedowns, moving goalposts, self-improvement exhaustion, and the pressure to constantly chase the next version of yourself instead of learning how to actually live inside the life you already built. ALL links here (submit a Q, pitch yourself to the pod, dating coaching & more) Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/seeingotherpeople #rulapod  Stock up on the best elevated essentials + get free shipping & 365 day returns at Quince.com/seeingotherpeople   Get $10 off your Nutrafol subscription at nutrafol.com promo code SEEINGOTHERPEOPLE Get 15% off OneSkin, the science-backed skincare brand…

People in this episode

Host: Ilana Dunn

Topics covered

  • achievement
  • self-improvement
  • personal growth
  • mental health
  • life milestones

Keywords

  • achievement comedown
  • self-improvement exhaustion
  • goal setting
  • personal milestones
  • mental health

Sponsors

Rula, Quince, Nutrafol, OneSkin

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