Game guide:Aspirations 101

This game guide is for The Sims 4 only.

The Sims 4 introduced a replacement to Lifetime Wishes from The Sims 3, called Aspirations. They share some common elements, but unlike Lifetime Wishes, they focus on sub-aspirations and can be switched at anytime. Unlike The Sims 2's Aspirations, they don't influence your Sim's wants and fears, but instead occasionally give Whims related to the current aspiration selected.

Create-A-Sim
When creating your Sim, the aspiration you choose for your Sim will give them a "bonus trait." This bonus trait will help you along with the aspiration. For example, if your Sim gets the "Successful Lineage", aspiration (which is under Family), they will get the "Domestic" bonus trait, which will allow you to raise Friendly relationships with your family members faster. You can always switch aspirations when you are in the Live Mode. You can do this through the Aspiration panel. The bonus trait, however, will not change. On that note: you will not lose progress from the previous aspiration. Below is a list of all the Bonus Traits that can be received.

Comparisions
Some Aspirations can take a long time to accomplish, and some can be not worth bee-lining or focusing on, but instead are better when multi-tasked along with others. Below is a chart of all the Aspirations, the amount of Satisfaction Points the award, what they focus on and their difficulty.

Aspirations
Note: All rewards are in Satisfaction points (SP).

Bodybuilder
This Aspiration focuses on the Fitness Skill, and the Sim's body quality. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Athlete, but it's not required to join it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Active, Bro. The Traits to avoid are: Lazy, Clumsy. Overall, you will gain 5,050 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Painter Extraordinaire
This Aspiration focuses on the Painting Skill. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Painter, but it's not required to join it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Creative, Art Lover, Perfectionist, Gloomy (useful if your Sim is Sad a lot). There are no particular Traits to avoid for this Aspiration. Overall, you will gain 5,000 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Bestselling Author
This Aspiration focuses on the Writing Skill, Publishing Books and Earning Royalties from those. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Writer, but it's not required to join it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Creative, Perfectionist. There are no particular Traits to avoid for this Aspiration. Overall, you will gain 4,925 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Musical Genius
This Aspiration focuses on Instrument Skills, song writing and various interactions relating those. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Entertainer (Musician Branch), but it's not required to join it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Creative, Self-Assured. The Traits to avoid are: Hot-Headed. Overall, you will gain 4,975 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Public Enemy
This Aspiration focuses on being a mean, hated Sim, and doing various Evil interactions. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Criminal, and you will have to reach Level 8 to complete all the Requirements. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Mean, Evil, Hates Children, Hot-Headed. The Traits to avoid are: Good, Outgoing. Overall, you will gain 4,125 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Chief of Mischief
This Aspiration focuses on Mischief Skill, being a prankster Sim, and later on a good hacker. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Criminal, but you're not required to join it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Mean, Goofball, Childish. The Traits to avoid are: Good, Outgoing. Overall, you will gain 4,425 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Successful Lineage
This Aspiration focuses on being a Child that will excel at life and will have a great future. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Childish, Family-Oriented. The Traits to avoid are: Hates Children, Mean, Evil. Overall, you will gain 5,325 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Big Happy Family
This Aspiration focuses on having a large family with a lot of successors. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Childish, Family-Oriented. The Traits to avoid are: Hates Children, Mean, Evil. Overall, you will gain 5,225 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Master Chef
This Aspiration focuses on Cooking and Gourmet Cooking Skills. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Culinary, and you are required to reach Level 8 in it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Creative, Perfectionist. The Traits to avoid are: Clumsy. Overall, you will gain 4,675 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Master Mixologist
This Aspiration focuses on the Mixology Skill and Drink Mixing. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Culinary, and you are required to join the Mixology Track (Level 7). The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Creative, Perfectionist. The Traits to avoid are: Clumsy. Overall, you will gain 4,425 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Fabulously Wealthy
This Aspiration focuses on collecting large amounts of money and having a great career. There is no optimal Career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Materialistic, Snob. There are no particular Traits to avoid. Overall, you will gain 4,675 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.
 * As of TS4: Get To Work's release, there is a way to cheat through the "earning" part. Simply transfer the funds between your retail business and your household funds, and the game will count the money as earned, allowing you to quickly reach large amounts. It is unknown if it's a bug or intended, but probably the former.

Mansion Baron
This Aspiration focuses on building one of the greatest and expensive houses. There is no optimal Career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Materialistic, Snob. There are no particular Traits to avoid. Overall, you will gain 4,500 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Renaissance Sim
This Aspiration focuses on being a Jack-of-all-trades and having tried multiple career tracks. There is no optimal Career for this Aspiration, but you will need to join 3 different ones and reach Level 3 in those. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Cheerful, Self-Assured, Noncommittal. The Traits to avoid are: Lazy. Overall, you will gain 5,000 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.
 * Having the "Connections" Reward Trait, worth 3000SP, will really help towards getting this Aspiration done.

Computer Whiz
This Aspiration focuses on being a versatile computers user, requiring both Programming and Video Gaming skills. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Tech Guru, and you will have to reach Level 5 in it. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Geek, Genius, Lazy. The Traits to avoid are: Active. Overall, you will gain 3,725 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Nerd Brain
This Aspiration focuses on being a handy and intellectual Sim, raising multiple Skills like Handiness, Rocket Science and Logic. There is no optimal Career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Genius, Bookworm. It's best to achieve Whiz Kid if you played through the Child age state. The Traits to avoid are: Lazy. Overall, you will gain 5,000 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Serial Romantic
This Aspiration focuses on being a Sim that has many love interests, and that doesn't settle down in one one relationship. There is no optimal Career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Romantic, Noncommittal. The Traits to avoid are: Family-Oriented. Overall, you will gain 4,125 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Soulmate
This Aspiration focuses on being a Sim that has is interested in finding his Soulmate, and stay with him/her to live a long happy life. There is no optimal Career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Romantic, Family-Oriented. The Traits to avoid are: Noncommittal. Overall, you will gain 4,325 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Freelance Botanist
This Aspiration focuses on the Gardening Skill and overall the Sim's garden. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Loves Outdoors, Genius. There are no particular Traits to avoid. Overall, you will gain 4,825 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Angling Ace
This Aspiration focuses on the Fishing Skill. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Loves Outdoors, Genius. The traits to avoid are: Squeamish. Overall, you will gain 4,150 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

The Curator
This Aspiration focuses on collecting collectibles scattered all around the world. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Loves Outdoors, Geek. There are no particular Traits to avoid. Overall, you will gain 4,075 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Outdoor Enthusiast
This Aspiration focused on everything The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat has to offer, like the Herbalism Skill and Vacations. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Loves Outdoors. The Traits to avoid are: Squeamish.

NOTE: This Aspiration has not yet been completed by the guide creator, thus Tips/Difficulty aren't final.

Joke Star
This Aspiration focuses on being a Sim that has is interested in having a life full of jokes and make money from his Comedy Skill. The optimal Career for this Aspiration is Entertainer, and you have to join the Comedian Branch (Level 5). The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Goofball, Outgoing. The Traits to avoid are: Mean, Evil. Overall, you will gain 4,350 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Friend of the World
This Aspiration focuses on being a Sim that wants to have a lot of Friends and be a friendly person. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. The best Traits to take if you plan on maxing it are: Good, Cheerful, Self-Assured, Outgoing. The Traits to avoid are: Mean, Evil, Loner. Overall, you will gain 4,450 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Party Animal
This Aspiration focuses on being a Sim that wants to have throw a lot of parties and be the talk of town. There is no optimal career for this Aspiration. There are no Traits that can help you or clog you down for this Aspiration. Overall, you will gain 4,350 Satisfaction Points from completing the 4 milestones.

Leader of the Pack
Added in The Sims 4: Get Together, this aspiration focuses on Clubs, your Sim's ability to manage one and making it the largest club available. Since Clubs are extremely flexible, no particular traits will help you or hinder your progress. In total, the aspiration awards 3,350 SP.