Before I set goals for 2026, I asked myself this…
Before setting any goals for 2026, there was a need to pause. Not to plan or map out what needed to be achieved, but to step back and reflect. Goal setting is often treated as a task to complete quickly, but without reflection, it can easily become another source of pressure rather than clarity.
It is easy to focus on numbers, milestones, and growth. Bigger targets. Faster timelines. More ambition. But when goals are created without alignment, they tend to pull energy away from what actually matters.Over time, they can lead to exhaustion, frustration, and a sense of disconnect from the very reasons the work began in the first place.
So before writing down any goals, the more important question came first.
What kind of year do I want 2026 to be? Not just in business, but in life.
Not only in terms of results, but in how each day is meant to feel. What deserves more attention? What needs to change? What no longer fits?
Clarity comes from honesty. Honest reflection on what has worked, what has drained energy, and what has created the most meaning. It also requires acknowledging where growth is needed and where rest is essential. Without this honesty, your goals risk becoming obligations rather than opportunities.
Once that clarity is in place, goal setting becomes more intentional. Goals stop being about proving worth or chasing expectations and start becoming tools for building something sustainable. Something that supports wellbeing, values, and long-term impact.
2026 does not need to be louder or busier to be successful.
It needs to be aligned. It needs to be intentional. And, it needs to reflect what matters most now, not what mattered before.
Before setting your goals this year, ask the deeper question first. Because the quality of the goals will always reflect the clarity that comes before them. And that is how a year worth living truly begins.
I’d love to hear what you’re asking yourself this year.
