80:: The female brain on consistency & goal-setting (why we are more consistent & motivated towards some goals than others!)

What makes some goals easy to stay consistent with—while others feel like a constant uphill battle? In this episode, I reflect on why movement has been one of the most consistent parts of my life, and how understanding the neuroscience behind goal setting and emotional significance can change how we approach our habits.I share a personal story about my grandmother’s stroke and how it shaped the way I view movement as a sacred gift. From there, we explore how the brain’s alarm system, specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex, evaluates the emotional and motivational weight of our goals—and how that determines the strength of our discipline and follow-through.We break down why some goals pull us forward effortlessly, while others require more external motivation or structure, and how to intentionally increase the emotional significance of your goals to improve consistency.We also connect this to last week’s conversation on motivation versus discipline, discussing:How emotional significance impacts goal pursuitWhy movement became my anchor habitThe brain’s alarm system and how it influences disciplineHigh stakes vs. low stakes goals and how to use them to your advantageHow to apply this framework to build new habits or reinforce old onesIf you’ve ever wondered why some habits stick and others don’t, this episode offers both science-based insight and personal reflection to help you reset, refocus, and reframe how you approach your goals.loving the pod? click the follow button, & we'd love if you could leave a review! thank you x 1000 :) sign up for the free Wellness Girl Chats newsletter!Want a peak into what it is like building this business, the podcast interviews, and all things female founder BTS? sign up for the free Firstborn Daughter Diaryinsta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodyoutube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpttiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodsign up for our patreon for exclusive content & workouts!NEAP Protein: www.neapfoods.com Safely Sidekick: http://livesafely.co/shop/drkelsy (or use code DRKELSY for 10% off)Grab your very own Stakt Mat & Accessories for 10% off your order while also supporting the pod! (Thank you so much!):: https://shopstakt.com/?rave=DAW65UTUF4VNG7OVThorne Website:: https://s.thorne.com/Zgk7YMy Thorne Dispensary & Recs:: https://www.thorne.com/u/drkelsyvickdptMessage me for 35% off your Thorne orders!00:00- 00:17 Intro00:18- 01:12 Introduction and Recap01:13- 02:13 The Importance of Consistency02:14- 04:01 Emotional Connection to Goals04:02- 06:46 Personal Story: Movement as a Gift06:47- 10:06 Neuroscience of Goal Setting10:07- 12:37 Applying Neuroscience to Personal Goals (Part 1)12:38- 13:13 Neap13:14- 18:09 Applying Neuroscience to Personal Goals (Part 2)18:10- 19:55 Conclusion and ReflectionsMentioned in this episode:Neap