Sometimes there’s a gap between what matters most and how I spend my time. Most of the time, I’m not aware of the split. And the truth is, when my actions don’t match my dreams, no one is coming along to point out the disparity. Others will be happy to vampire my time and energy, time and energy I could be spending on those dreams. (Yes, I meant to use vampire as a verb.)

Closing that divide requires effort, when I first wrote this in December 2022, that meant Resolutions. Spoiler: I’m not big on Resolutions. They’re like affirmations, more likely to give me something to feel bad about than affect change. That said, dreams and roadmaps are essential to the alchemy of hope.

So I created a year-end inventory, a series of prompts meant to be done in short bursts rather than lengthy bouts of teeth gnashing. Each prompt invites you to review aspects of your life, in order to expand on the positives. A joyful exploration.

I suggest tackling these once a week. You won’t want to spend more than 15 minutes on a prompt. Go with your first response!

By the end of the month, this holistic approach will helped me sort out my priorities according to my values, and then set personal and business goals for the coming year. At the end of the 4-week process, I had a clearer view of how my reality aligned with my goals in such a way that I had room to dream.

I’ve cribbed these ideas from the zeitgeist (value cards, various coaches I’ve worked with, and even recovery), and will likely change and adapt with time. I am eager to find out what’s on the other side of this!

HOW to set clear-eyed goals

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