I have to admit that structures like "SMART goals" just don't work for me. They are prescriptive and subjective, and I found that once I fell into specialist territory everything got worse. I don't know what's wrong with me, I have no idea if it's permanent or temporary, and a lot of doctors don't care about (or even remember) what your goals are. Even gentle reminders of what the visit is supposed to be about don't always work, and I end up more dispirited than before.

I know that I have primary responsibility for my health, but since I chose a different career path, I don't know HOW to get better. I'm smart, but I have no delusions about being a doctor (though I bet I could hold my own on some medical topics, after all these years).

My goals are simple and clear. I want to be able to walk for an hour. I want to be able to eat healthy food without days of gut pain and nausea afterwards. I want to feel something other than fear and sorrow. I want to regain my ability to see beauty. I want to be able to pleasure read again.

Sorry to be negative, but I've been handed so much prescriptive stuff like this, and I've diligently engaged to find that nobody wants to engage back. The SMART goals feel like something a teacher has ready for the substitute to hand out to keep the kids busy and quiet.

But if it works for you, I say go for it. I just fail to see how it helps with anything.