Psychology says you might be jinxing your own goals by talking about them too soon, why announcing your plans can reduce motivation
For a brief moment it feels like you’ve taken a huge step forward.
But psychology suggests something surprising: Sometimes, recognizing a goal before doing the work can reduce the motivation needed to achieve that goal.
This familiar feeling of “I don’t want to jinx this by talking about it too soon” may have a psychological explanation. Research shows that when people receive social approval for their ambitions, their brains can sometimes experience a small sense of accomplishment before real success occurs.
This doesn’t mean people should never share goals. Support and accountability can be helpful. But researchers have found that simply announcing intentions is not the same as taking action, and sometimes it can create the illusion of progress.
Why does announcing goals feel like achieving them?
One of the strongest explanations comes from psychologist Peter Gollwitzer and his research on goal pursuit.
Gollwitzer and colleagues published in 2009, “When Intentions Are Made Public: Does Social Reality Widen the Intention-Behavior Gap?” examined what happens when people’s goals become public.
Researchers have focused on goals tied to personal identity, such as becoming a lawyer, improving your fitness, or improving your professional skills.
They found that when participants’ intentions were appreciated, they sometimes made less effort to achieve the actual goal compared to those whose intentions remained hidden.
According to the researchers, this was because public recognition created a sense of social reality, that is, the feeling that the desired identity had been partially achieved.
In simple terms, it’s easy to say “I’m becoming a writer” and not say “That’s great, you’ll be a successful writer!” Hearing it can provide some of the psychological satisfaction of already being that person.
The brain tastes the reward before the challenge begins.
Self-complementation theory: Why recognition might reduce the drive to prove oneself.
This idea is closely linked to the Self-Completion Theory developed by psychologists Robert Wicklund and Gollwitzer.
The theory suggests that people are motivated to create and maintain significant identities, whether as a successful entrepreneur, athlete, artist, or leader.
When people feel that evidence for this identity is missing, they work harder to collect evidence that confirms it. For example, a person who wants to be a fitness enthusiast buys workout equipment, follows training plans, and exercises regularly.
However, when people receive symbolic evidence such as praise, recognition, or public approval, they may feel that part of their identity has already been achieved.
External validation replaces real progress.
The “bad luck” feeling and the science of positive fantasies
Another explanation comes from psychologist Gabriele Oettingen, whose research examines how imagining future success affects motivation.
Many people believe that visualizing success automatically increases motivation. While positive thinking can sometimes be helpful, Oettingen’s research found that simply daydreaming about a positive future can actually reduce the energy people expend to achieve it.
In a 2002 study titled “The motivational function of thinking about the future: Expectations versus fantasies,” Oettingen and Doris Mayer examined how people’s expectations and fantasies about the future affect their behavior.
They found that participants who spent more time imagining a successful outcome generally exerted less effort and experienced less energy compared to participants who realistically appraised the challenges facing them.
The reason is simple: The brain can sometimes view imaginary success as a psychological reward.
