Goal Energy and Mindset
I used to set goals every January and still feel stuck by March.
By April, I had changed course, and some years I forgot about my goals entirely.
After setting the same goals year after year, I finally made some changes.
What shifted wasn’t only my planner — it was the emotional energy I carried into the year, and the gentle accountability my planner gave me.
And that matters more than we think.
Do you believe that everything starts in your mind?
That every change begins with a thought?
Most things do.
Thoughts come before action.
They can move you forward or stop you.
Sometimes they protect you.
Sometimes they trap you.
But here’s the hopeful truth: you’re not powerless with your thoughts.
You can interrupt them.
Question them.
Choose which ones to feed — and which ones to let go.
That’s where real change starts.
As we leave 2025, many of us will set goals.
Some of us will create very detailed goals.
Others will keep them looser.
Either way, before you write a single new goal, I want you to do two things first.
Don’t skip them — they can make a big difference.
- Review your emotions this year
This is not self-punishment.
This is self-leadership.
It’s a practical review, with a heavy dose of grace and love for yourself.
Start with your feelings. Ask:
What was the most common emotion I felt in 2025?
Joy? Peace? Calm? Comfort?
Or stress, fear, anxiety, or something else?
Is this emotion what I want to experience most in my life?
What patterns were most common this year?
Which ones helped me?
Which ones didn’t?
Who were the most positively influential people in my life this year?
Why were they influential?
How can I invite more of that into my life?
What were my happiest moments?
What small things bring me joy?
(For me, it’s hiking, a warm shower, and hugs.)
What do I want to do more of next year?
Before thinking about productivity and goals, you need to get honest about what you carried this year.
Because feelings and thoughts feed each other.
And what you think and feel shapes what you do.
If you don’t name your emotional patterns, you’ll quietly repeat them — even with brand-new goals.
Key takeaway:
If we don’t choose our emotional direction, our circumstances will choose it for us.
These prompts help you notice the emotional energy you lived with — and how it influenced your life.
Once you see that clearly, you’re ready for the next step.
- Review the areas of your life
Now look at your actual goals and the life areas connected to them:
Work / purpose
Finances
Health
Relationships
Surroundings (your “nest”)
Grooming / self-care
Personal development
Hobbies and fun
These are just ideas — only you know what matters most to you.
Next week, I’ll go deeper into how to review each area without overwhelm, and how to turn what you learn into real, doable goals.
For now, take this week to reflect.
Not to judge yourself — to understand yourself.
I hope this helps you plan the next year…
or the next 12 weeks.
If you’re ready for more focus, accountability, and clarity in your next 12 weeks — with or without ADHD — take a look at our 12-week system. It’s designed to guide you, keep you on track, and make follow-through feel doable.
