What is generally defined as anything that prevents the attainment of one's goals?

The term that is generally defined as anything that prevents the attainment of one's goals is best associated with "handicap." A handicap refers to a condition or barrier that limits a person's ability to engage fully in particular activities, thereby impacting their ability to achieve personal or professional goals. This definition emphasizes the contextual nature of the challenge—while disabilities and impairments may relate to physical or mental conditions, a handicap specifically addresses the limitations imposed by those conditions in terms of achieving goals in various spheres of life.

Disabilities typically refer to a broader range of functional limitations that can be physical, mental, or emotional, while impairments are more specific to alterations in normal bodily functions. Although these terms are often interconnected, the focus of the question is specifically on barriers to achieving goals, making "handicap" the most fitting choice in this context.