How to Make This Year Your Best Yet: A Comprehensive Guide
The start of a new year offers a natural opportunity to reflect, dream, and set intentions for what’s ahead. With a thoughtful process, you can create a blueprint for a year that’s not just good but extraordinary. If you don’t already have a method to approach this, this blog will guide you through a powerful process to evaluate where you are, celebrate where you’ve been, and design where you’re headed. Let’s dive into how to take an inventory of your life, dream big, and create a vision board to bring it all to life.
Step 1: Conduct an Inventory of Your Nine Environments
One of the most impactful tools for personal growth is assessing your nine environments. These environments represent the key areas that influence your well-being, mindset, relationships, and overall satisfaction with life. The nine environments include:
Self: Your physical health, emotional well-being, and personal growth.
Relationships: Your connections with family, friends, colleagues, and your community.
Physical Environment: The spaces you inhabit, such as your home, office, and other surroundings.
Spiritual: Your sense of purpose, values, and connection to something greater.
Financial: Your income, savings, and overall financial health.
Career: Your professional satisfaction, goals, and work-life balance.
Recreation: Your hobbies, leisure activities, and fun.
Learning: Your education, skills, and ongoing development.
Network: The people who inspire, mentor, and challenge you to grow.
Take time to evaluate each environment on a scale of 1 to 10. Ask yourself:
What’s working well here?
What needs improvement?
What’s missing entirely?
Once you’ve completed your inventory, you’ll have a clear snapshot of where you’re thriving and where there’s room for growth.
Step 2: Celebrate Last Year’s Wins
Before you start setting goals for the new year, take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate what you accomplished last year. This exercise fosters gratitude and confidence, setting a positive tone for future planning. Consider the following questions:
What were your biggest achievements?
What challenges did you overcome?
What new skills or knowledge did you acquire?
What experiences brought you joy or helped you grow?
Write down your answers. You might be surprised at how much you achieved when you take the time to reflect.
Step 3: Dream Big for the Year Ahead
Now it’s time to shift your focus forward. Imagine what would make this year your best yet. Start by brainstorming freely—no idea is too big or small. Ask yourself:
What experiences do I want to have?
What personal or professional milestones do I want to reach?
How do I want to feel at the end of this year?
Capture your dreams in a list or journal. Once you’ve brainstormed, organize your ideas into categories that align with the nine environments. This will help you ensure balance and focus across all areas of your life.
Step 4: Time-Travel to Five Years from Now
For an even bigger perspective, take a mental leap forward five years. Imagine it’s 2029, and everything you dreamed about has come true. Speak about your life as if it has already happened. For example:
“I’m thriving in my dream career, doing work that fulfills me every day.”
“My relationships are deeper and more meaningful than ever.”
“I’ve traveled to [insert dream destinations], and each trip has been a life-changing adventure.”
This exercise allows you to think beyond immediate goals and connect with a deeper vision of what’s possible. Share this vision with a trusted friend or accountability partner. Their support and perspective can amplify your inspiration.
Step 5: Create a Vision Board
With your dreams clearly articulated, it’s time to bring them to life visually. Vision boards are a powerful tool to engage your creativity and align your subconscious mind with your goals. Follow these steps:
Gather Materials: Collect magazines, scissors, glue, and a large piece of cardboard or poster board.
Cut Out Inspiring Images: Look for pictures that resonate with your dreams and goals. Focus on images that evoke strong positive emotions. Avoid using words—let the visuals speak for themselves.
Arrange Your Board: Place your images on the board in a way that feels inspiring and cohesive. Ensure there’s no blank space; fill every inch with pictures that represent your aspirations.
Review and Reflect: Once your board is complete, take a moment to absorb it. Notice how it reflects the priorities and desires you’ve already identified in your inventory and dream sessions.
The process of creating a vision board activates whole-brain thinking by engaging both your logical and creative sides. It’s a fun and effective way to anchor your intentions for the year.
Why This Process Works
This approach combines reflection, planning, and creativity to set you up for success. Here’s why each step is crucial:
The Inventory: Provides clarity about where you are and what you need to focus on.
Celebrating Wins: Builds confidence and reminds you of your resilience and achievements.
Dreaming Big: Opens up possibilities and inspires action.
Five-Year Visioning: Encourages long-term thinking and deepens your commitment to your goals.
Vision Board: Creates a tangible representation of your dreams, keeping them top of mind throughout the year.
Tips for Success
Schedule Regular Check-Ins: Revisit your inventory, goals, and vision board monthly to stay on track.
Stay Flexible: Life is unpredictable, so be open to adjusting your goals as needed.
Celebrate Progress: Recognize and reward yourself for milestones along the way.
Involve Others: Share your goals with friends, family, or a coach who can offer support and accountability.
By following this process, you can create a year that’s intentional, balanced, and deeply fulfilling. Start by taking an honest look at where you are, dream about where you want to go, and use tools like vision boards to bring your aspirations to life. With clarity, creativity, and commitment, this year can truly be your best yet. Here’s to a year full of growth, joy, and extraordinary experiences!
P.S. Want to start off the year the right way? Check out my Ignite Your Power Retreat in January, designed to evolve your leadership and your life, and bring you power, freedom, and purpose.