Before You Plan Next Year, Ask Yourself This One Question.

Before You Plan Next Year, Ask Yourself This One Question.

Most people don’t fail because they lack goals.

They fail because they chase goals that were never truly theirs.

Every year, we rush into planning—new targets, new habits, new promises—without pausing to ask the most important questions:

What actually matters to me right now?

And how do I know I’m moving in the right direction?

If you want next year to feel intentional—not exhausting—this is where you begin.

Why Most Priorities Feel Confusing.

We live in a world of borrowed ambitions.

• Goals shaped by comparison

• Priorities influenced by expectations

• Desires inherited from society, family, or social media

So when someone asks, “What’s your priority for next year?”

We hesitate.

Not because we’re unclear…

But because we’ve never been taught how to find the answer within ourselves.

Clarity doesn’t come from motivation.

It comes from awareness.

Step 1: Know Where You Are Before Deciding Where to Go**

You can’t choose the right direction if you don’t know your current location.

Before setting priorities, take inventory of the year that just passed.

Ask yourself:

What energized me this year?

Moments where time disappeared. Conversations that felt alive. Work that felt meaningful.

What drained me?

Tasks that felt heavy. Commitments that created resentment. Roles you stayed in out of obligation.

What patterns repeated?

Successes, struggles, habits, emotional reactions—these patterns are signposts.

This reflection isn’t emotional.

It’s data.

Your energy is your compass.

Your patterns are your map.

Step 2: Separate “Wants” From “Shoulds”

One of the biggest reasons people feel stuck is because they confuse desire with duty.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want this—or do I feel I *should* want it?

• Does this goal excite me—or does it impress others?

• Would I still choose this if no one was watching?

Real priorities feel calm and aligned.

False priorities feel heavy and performative.

If a goal requires constant external validation, it’s probably not yours.

Step 3: Listen to Your Discomfort (It’s Trying to Help You)

Discomfort is not a sign you’re failing.

It’s a signal you’re misaligned.

Pay attention to:

• Where you feel resistance

• Where procrastination shows up

• Where you feel stuck despite effort

These aren’t flaws.

They’re feedback.

Sometimes what you want isn’t more success—

It’s more space.

More peace.

More meaning.

More control over your time.

When you stop fighting discomfort and start listening to it, clarity follows.

Step 4: Define What “Enough” Looks Like for You

Most people chase more because they’ve never defined enough.

Ask yourself:

• What does a good year actually look like for me?

• How do I want my days to feel?

• What do I want to protect—my energy, health, relationships, creativity?

Your priority isn’t a title or a number.

It’s a feeling state you’re trying to live in.

Goals should support that feeling—not sabotage it.

Step 5: Let Your Priorities Be Simple

Clarity doesn’t come from doing more.

It comes from choosing less—intentionally.

Instead of 10 goals, choose 3 guiding priorities:

1. One area to grow

2. One area to protect

3. One area to release

When priorities are clear, decisions become easier.

When decisions are easier, consistency becomes natural

The Truth About Knowing What You Want

You don’t find clarity by rushing into the future.

You find it by reflecting on your past.

Who you’re becoming is already visible in:

• What excites you

• What exhausts you

• What you can no longer tolerate

Your job isn’t to reinvent yourself next year.

It’s to align with yourself.

Final Thought

Before you ask, “What should I do next year?”

Ask, “What did this year teach me about myself?”

That answer will quietly reveal your true priorities.

Because when you know where you are…

You stop chasing the wrong destination.

Pic credit Google