6 Steps to Start Your Year with Confidence and Clarity
Hey friend! Isn’t it crazy how fast this new year crept up on us? It feels like we blinked a whole year passed us by. Here we are again, toasting to new beginnings and starting a brand new year. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and “okay now what?” vibes. But don’t worry, because I’ve got you covered! Let’s talk a little bit about how to start this year with intentional action so you can set the tone for a confident and aligned year.
Why Mindset Matters
First, let’s talk about mindset. Let’s jump back to this time last year and think about what happened with those goals. Did you find yourself talking yourself out of believing in the goals you wanted to achieve? Phrases like “I can’t do this” or “I’m not good enough” may have run through your head and the more you heard those whispers the more you believed them. But what if you could change that? Positive vibes is more than just a cute catchphrase on social media, it's a way of life. It’s about grounding yourself in positive self-talk that supports your goals and helps you create the best version of yourself. The real first step of this process is to be intentional about the words you speak to yourself everyday.
Step 1: Reflect and Release
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the previous year. What went well? What went wrong? Honesty is important in this step but so is kindness. Be kind to yourself and give yourself some grace. If something went wrong that’s okay, it can only help you grow even more this year! Think of this step like decluttering your space - you have to let go of what doesn’t serve you to make room for what feels good and nurtures your confidence.
Pro Tip: Grab a journal, or even just a pen and paper, and write down three things you’re proud of and three things you’re ready to release. There is something powerful about putting pen to paper and seeing things written out in front of you.
Step 2: Get Clear on Your Vision
First step complete! Now that we’ve decluttered your mental space, it's time to start dreaming! This is where you dream BIG. What do you want this year to feel like? What do you want to accomplish this year? What goals light a fire in your soul? To build confidence you need to be clear about what you want to work towards. This is the preparation for creating the future you want. Write down that vision! The limit does not exist!
Try This: Picture your perfect day this year. What does it look like? Where are you? Who is with you? What are you doing? Write down everything! This is your vision, it only needs to make sense and feel good to you. Other opinions don’t matter!
Step 3: Set Aligned Goals
Okay great! We’ve got the vision, now it’s time to break it down into bite-sized pieces. Instead of writing down vague goals, be specific and make them actionable. For example, instead of writing “be healthier” you can write “exercise 3 times a week” or instead of “more self-care” you can write “journal every morning”.
Friendly Reminder: These goals should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Start small and work your way up from there. This is about progress, NOT perfection.
Step 4: Create Daily Mindset Rituals
Much like a habit, confidence isn’t built overnight and it is not a one-and-done kind of thing. Confidence is like a muscle that you have to train regularly. One of my favorite ways to build that muscle of confidence is to implement daily tasks that fuel my soul and keep me grounded.
Here are some ideas to try, but don’t be afraid to create your own! This is your personal journey, do what works for you.
Morning Affirmations: Start your day with positive statements. Use statements that align with your goals and how you want to grow. For example, “I am enough”, “I am capable”, “I deserve happiness”, “I can accomplish anything”.
Gratitude Practice: Write down three things you are grateful for every day. This is a simple way to help you learn to focus on the positive and shift away from negative thinking.
Mindful Moments: Take five minutes each day to breathe deeply or meditate. Be intentional with your breathing, 4 seconds inhale 4 seconds exhale. Trust me, this can be so beneficial for calming your nervous system and approaching the day with a clearer mind.
Step 5: Embrace Flexibility
Now for the reality check, this process is cute and simple on paper, but life happens. Plans change, challenges happen, and sometimes things just don’t happen in the ways we expect. That’s okay! Confidence doesn’t mean you have all the answers or that things will always go the right way. Confidence means believing and trusting yourself enough to handle whatever comes your way!
When life comes at you sideways and things get tough, remind yourself why you started this in the first place. What is your “why”? What is your reason for setting these goals and going after them with intention? That “why” is your anchor for when life gets hard and you find yourself feeling discouraged. Hold on tight to that “why”.
Step 6: Celebrate Every Win
Now for the most important step, don’t forget to celebrate! It could be a small step forward, a moment of growth, or a major milestone. Whatever it is, CELEBRATE it! Acknowledge your progress and be proud of the progress you made. Confidence grows when you learn to recognize how far you’ve come.
Quick Tip: Keep a “victory jar”. Everytime you achieve something or make progress towards your goals and your vision, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. By the end of the year, you will have a beautiful collection of wins to look back on.
P.S. You can use this victory jar on the hard days to help you remember how far you have come and how much you have grown!
Let’s Do This!
Starting the year with confidence doesn’t mean having all the answers right from the jump. It means attacking each day with intention. You have everything you need to make this your best year yet! Grab your tea (or coffee), take a deep breath, and let’s tackle this year together!
Cheers to a year full of opportunity, growth, joy, and endless possibilities.
You’ve got this friend!
P.S. I made something just for you. If you’re really ready to start designing the life you deserve, download my free guide to help you stay focused on your goals and dive deeper into mastering your mindset!