Planning Your Best Year Yet

Happy (almost) New Year! Who doesn’t love a fresh start? We sure do, and this week, Emily’s here every single day until the New Year to give you all the tools and tricks to help you plan your best year yet. Here’s the thing: we know you’re coming to this episode today from all kinds of different places. You might be ready to take the new year by storm. If that’s you, then rock on, sister! But if you’re struggling with something—or many somethings—we get it. It can feel hard to feel like a fresh start is within your grasp. Wherever you are on your journey, Emily’s here to help you to think about how to set the direction for your brand-new year. Because no matter where you’re starting from, taking steps to think about where you are and where you want to be, whether big or small, sets an intention in your heart. And intention is direction. It’s a great place to start moving mountains.

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How to Start Planning for 2022

1. Check in with yourself. Find time to reflect on where you are now, so that you can plan better for where you want to be. 
2. Name what matters most. What matters to you is completely unique to your life, focus on that and make a plan. 
3. Think about the kind of goal setting that motivates you. Find some measurable goals to work towards, but don’t make everything in your life fit into a small set of data points. 
4. Remember that you are strong, but also remember to be gentle with yourself. No matter what 2021 looked like for you, 2022 offers a fresh start. The strength to achieve lives within your heart already, but remember to be gentle with that heart when things don’t go according to plan. 

Thought-Provoking Quotes

“Of course, I love a fresh start, but sometimes it's hard to feel like a fresh start is within your grasp. I just want to acknowledge that no matter where I'm meeting you today with this topic, I truly believe it can be useful for you. Because taking steps to think about where you are and where you want to be, whether big or small, sets an intention in your heart and intention is direction. It's a great place to start moving mountains.” – Emily Ley 

“What matters to you is completely and wholly unique to you. So don't look at your friend and replicate what matters to her. You can look to her for inspiration, but you don't have to copy her. The things that matter most to her will be different from what matters to you.” – Emily Ley 

“Clean slates and fresh starts are wonderful. No matter where I am in my life, I get a little excited to think about filling those pages. But sometimes thinking and planning for the future can feel a little bit daunting. You may have small things coming up that will stretch your abilities. You may have big things on the horizon that will test your patience and maybe even your faith. I don't know what's in store for you this year, but here's what I do know. You are so much stronger than you think you are. Think about all the boulders you've moved over your life to get to where you are right now.” – Emily Ley 

“You are a living, breathing testament to the power of resilience. You have pushed and fought and scraped and clawed, and you are still here and you are so strong. I also want you to know strong people show the greatest strength when they are gentle with themselves. Strong people mess up. They know it's inevitable because when you're present in this life and you go out on a limb and you try something, you're not always going to get it right.” – Emily Ley 

A Blessing for Your Week

Today, I’m thinking about this beautiful prayer by Fr. Thomas Merton:

“My Lord God, 

I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. 

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. 

But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. 

I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. 

And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. 

Therefore will I trust You always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. 

I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Simplicity Tip of the Week

If you're looking for a super deep dive into planning your year, then you need to know about Chris Guillebeau. Chris is a thought leader who's created a template for giving yourself a detailed annual review that'll help you take stock of where you are and where you want to go. I'll link to his template in the show notes. If you're ready for a masterclass in planning your year. Chris is your guy and you're going to love his annual review. 

New Book Alert: Build a Life You Love!

Get Emily’s new book, Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love, wherever you buy books!

Resources, Links, Mentions from This Episode

• Chris Guillebeau Annual Review 

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