the input field should be taken off the page and replaced with a link at the bottom of your list of things that says “add a goal”. you would then be taken to a secondary page, dedicated to adding goals.
this “add a goal” page could have the familiar input field, in addition to a goal search field. in all reality, i search the topic of my goal and look for the most relevant goal with the most user activity, in order to achieve a stronger support network. if i cannot find an existing goal to my liking, then, and only then, do i use the add a goal input.
the reason it does not deserve such an eminent placement on my main page is because of its infrequent usage. i have used the add goal input field four times in an entire year. in 365 days it has only been used 4 times, yet it not only dominates an enlarged section of screen real estate, but it also dominates my browser functionality.
remove it. add a button below the list things, give the process its own page, and improve the functionality of adding new/existing goals, all in one simple improvement.