The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte Summary

The Desire Map teaches a feelings-first approach to goal-setting, urging readers to prioritize core desired feelings (like joy or freedom) over traditional achievement-based objectives. Danielle LaPorte argues that aligning goals with emotional fulfillment creates lasting happiness, acting as an internal compass for decisions. The book includes exercises to identify these feelings and apply them to career, relationships, and personal growth.

This book suits anyone disillusioned with conventional goal-setting methods, particularly seekers of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, or spirituality. Entrepreneurs, creatives, and individuals navigating life transitions will find its emphasis on self-awareness and intentional living transformative. It’s also ideal for fans of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, as LaPorte is a featured thought leader.

Yes, if you want to reframe success beyond checklists and tap into emotional authenticity. Readers praise its actionable framework for reducing burnout and enhancing fulfillment. However, those preferring rigid, metrics-driven plans may find its abstract approach challenging. Over 400 global leaders in LaPorte’s programs attest to its impact.

Core desired feelings (CDFs) are emotional states you wish to cultivate daily, such as peace, creativity, or connection. LaPorte advises identifying 3–5 CDFs to guide decisions, arguing they create more meaningful goals than external milestones. For example, choosing a career based on “fulfillment” rather than salary alone.

Unlike SMART goals, which focus on specific outcomes, LaPorte’s method starts by asking, “How do I want to feel?” This inversion prioritizes emotional alignment over achievement, reducing the “arrival fallacy” (disappointment post-success). A case study shows shifting from “start a business in 5 years” to “feel empowered daily” accelerates action.

1. Reflect: Journal about past goals and their emotional impact.
2. Identify: Choose 3–5 core desired feelings using prompts.
3. Align: Audit current habits, relationships, and work against these feelings.
4. Act: Set “goals with soul” that nurture CDFs, like scheduling creativity time.

Some find the focus on emotions too vague for measurable progress. Critics argue without tangible milestones, motivation may wane. LaPorte addresses this by pairing feelings with actionable “mini-goals,” like daily gratitude practices to sustain momentum.

By clarifying CDFs like “autonomy” or “impact,” you can evaluate job offers, promotions, or side hustles through an emotional lens. For instance, declining a high-paid role that clashes with “work-life balance”.

• “How you want to feel is the most potent form of clarity.”
• “Gratitude is the gateway to abundance.”

These emphasize emotional awareness and appreciation as foundations for intentional living.

While Atomic Habits focuses on incremental behavior change, LaPorte’s work targets the emotional “why” behind habits. Both advocate alignment between actions and values, but The Desire Map prioritizes internal fulfillment over external systems.

Yes, LaPorte offers the Heart-Centered Planner and digital workbooks to identify CDFs. Her membership programs include guided meditations and community support, extending the book’s principles into daily practice.

Amid AI-driven productivity pressure, its emphasis on emotional well-being resonates with burnout-prone audiences. Trends in workplace mindfulness and “quiet quitting” align with its call to prioritize inner fulfillment over societal expectations.