Goal setting for thriving and sustainable success in the performing arts: taking inspiration from nature

Goal setting has been studied extensively across domains such as sports, business, and education, but rarely in the performing arts. In this perspective paper, we explore how nature and its synergistic processes can serve as a metaphorical heuristic to inspire goal setting in acting, dance, and music. We do so by drawing on studies of ecosystems and recent literature reviews, discussing different goal-setting approaches, and providing insights from a qualitative case study with performing artists. Goals may enhance self-efficacy and performance by focusing attention, supporting self-regulated learning, or fostering flow. Effective goal setting depends on the task, situational constraints, and the type of focus required, and should ensure self-concordance, that is, alignment with one’s values, and adaptability. Our thematic analysis of ten performing artists’ goal setting during a coaching intervention illuminated the value of written goals and ways of setting long-term goals and showed that participants were aiming to be natural, spontaneous, and present. Further research is essential to deepen our understanding of goal setting across artistic domains and its potential to foster thriving creative practices. While using nature as a metaphor for long-term goals may be anthropomorphic, the principles of adaptability and synergy in natural ecosystems offer valuable insights for understanding how to thrive and cultivate a sustainable, fulfilling artistic life.