Happy 2026! It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by. When you approached the start of the new year, how did it make you feel? Were you excited about the start of a new year, relieved that the last year is over, or dreading the year ahead? As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I hope that you’ve spent time reflecting and celebrating the good things that happened in 2025. I also hope you discovered joy in that reflection and that it’s inspired your goals and dreams for 2026.
I’m excited about the year ahead. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love creating goals. I spent many years in my career creating strategic plans with SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals, and action plans to achieve those goals. While I don’t have a strategic plan, after praying, this year I’ve set some goals and dreams for my professional life, and my spiritual life. My husband and I also set goals for our marriage. Each year brings me a sense of hope and wonder as I dream about what God has in store for me. How are you preparing for the new year? Maybe you’ve made some resolutions and you’re full of energy and excitement. Or maybe you haven’t given it much thought. What are some of your dreams? Here are some suggestions to help you get started.
- Select a word or phrase for the year.
- This can help to set the tone and be a guiding light for the year. Before setting goals, every year I pray about a word and a Bible verse to guide me through the year. This year I couldn’t decide between two words, so I decided to have two, trust and imagine. I’m trusting God with my plans and imagining God doing more than I can ask or think.
- Use a tool to help you.
- Journal your goals and dreams. It can be helpful to write them down and think about what steps it’s going to take to get there.
- Create a vision board. This will take some time, but having something that you can look at to remind you or your goals and dreams can be inspiring. Get a poster board, some markers, crayons, pictures etc. and dream away!
- If you like more structure, get a planner or create a goal worksheet. Use the SMART goals model to help identify your goals and dreams.
- Pray about your plans.
- The Bible tells us to commit our plans to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3). That means we entrust our goals, dreams, and decisions to God seeking His will and guidance over our lives. It’s surrendering and trusting God’s wisdom over our own. He may have a better plan for us and we don’t want to miss out on it. It’s important for us to be flexible and willing to change our plans.
Still not sure where to start? Here are some questions to consider:
- What are some things I’ve always wanted to accomplish?
- What would my life look like if I reached this goal or dream?
- What is one concrete step I can take starting today?
- What area of my life do I want to improve? (work, spiritual, relationships, hobbies etc.)
- What are some things I want to stop doing or limit?
As you’re planning for the year, remember to take it one step at a time. In a recent sermon, one of our pastors reminded us that God gives us enough light to see to take one step at a time, one day at a time. There’s joy in every step we take towards achieving our goals, when we ask God to show us the right path and the road to follow (Psalm 25:4). Let’s not be so fixed on the goal, that we miss the joy to be found on the journey. Be persistent. Big dreams and goals take time and perseverance! And remember, it’s never too late to start. As C.S. Lewis said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
I’d love to partner with you to help you discover and realize your dreams and goals for 2026 and beyond. Schedule a complimentary session with me today!
