<p>Two studies tested the impact of manipulated and habitual emotional reappraisal and trait self-control (TSC) on personal goal pursuit (Study 1: exercise goals; Study 2: academic goals), and whether goal effort and experiences of positive and negative emotions (Study 1–2) and goal motivation (Study 2) mediated these effects. Participants (total <i>N</i> = 404) stated a goal they wanted to achieve over a specified timeframe. Half of the participants were assigned to a reappraisal manipulation (vs. a no-regulation control group) instructing them to develop a strategy to reframe negative emotions into positive emotions that would otherwise prevent them from achieving their goal, and to use this strategy during goal pursuit. Participants in both studies completed measures of habitual reappraisal, TSC, goal effort, emotional experiences, and goal pursuit, and participants in Study 2 also completed a measure of goal motivation. Results showed that high TSC enhanced goal pursuit, and that increased goal effort and greater goal motivation mediated this relationship. Habitual (but not manipulated) reappraisal enhanced goal pursuit through increased goal effort, greater goal motivation, and decreased negative emotions, although the latter finding did not replicate in Study 2. This research advances our understanding of the facilitating effect of TSC and habitual reappraisal on goal pursuit.</p>