Don’t Set Goals for 2025, Do This Instead

Every year, people start with ambitious goals: lose weight, earn more money, get a better job, travel more. While these intentions seem productive and motivational in the moment, they rarely lead to lasting change.

Why? Because goals without a purpose are just tasks detached from the bigger picture of your life.

Instead of setting random goals for 2025, why not create a clear vision of your future?

A Vision Bigger Than Goals

Most of us have vague ideas about what we want.

Better house, improved health, or financial stability.

However, few of us have taken the time to clearly define what our ideal life looks like. Without this clarity, goals become short-term fixes rather than meaningful steps toward a fulfilling life.

And you might have a general idea where you want to go, but when you write it down, you begin to become the architect of your life and this becomes the foundation which you build from.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

Carl Jung

Here’s the shift: Begin with your bigger picture. Imagine there are no limits, money is not an object, and failure isn’t possible. What does your ideal life look like?

Let yourself be a kid again, have fun and explore. It doesn’t matter if you are 21 or 70, this is your life to create as long as the blood is pumping through your veins.

Ask yourself:

1. What are you passionate about? What energizes and excites you? What would you love to do all day long?
2. Where do you want to live? The countryside, a vibrant city, or near the ocean? What is your ideal environment, maybe there are multiple places?
3. Who are the people in your life? What relationships bring joy and meaning to your daily experiences? What do your personal relationships look like? Who are the people you surround yourself with?
4. What work fulfills you? How do you spend your time contributing to the world? What problems do you love to solve?
5. What does your health look like? What kind of shape are you in, what does your body look like, and how is your energy? What do you do for exercise, running, lift weights, Ju jitsu, hiking, all of the above?
6. How do you connect spiritually? With yourself, others, or a higher purpose? What is your relationship with your creator?

Write down your vision in vivid detail, and don’t spare any details. Be as descriptive as possible and just let it go. Again this is your opportunity to craft the life you desire.

Important reminder: write it as if it has already happened.

Use present tense “I live in my three bedroom house in the hills of Nosara, Costa Rica with an ocean view and surrounded by lush jungle”.

Now you might find yourself holding back because you don’t know how this will happen and this stops a lot of us from playing full out with our desired life. Avoid worrying about the “how”, this isn’t the time for logistics. Your vision should inspire and excite you and provide a roadmap for the person you want to become.

If you’re thinking, “I already have a good life,” ask yourself?

Are you growing, or are you stuck in comfort?

Material achievements can feel satisfying in the short term, but lasting fulfillment comes from how you show up for your relationships, your personal growth, and your impact on others.

Don’t let yourself off the hook by playing small and staying in your comfort zone.

Who Do You Need to Become?

Once your vision is clear, the next step is figuring out the habits and mindset of the person who lives that life. Again don’t get stuck on the “how”, instead focus on the “who.”

Here’s the truth: You don’t need all the answers right now. Start by asking, Who do I need to become to live this life?

Try these on:

• If your vision includes peak physical health, what habits would support that? Maybe that looks like 4-5 workouts a week, different way of eating, or prioritizing sleep.
• If your vision includes strong relationships, what actions would strengthen them? Perhaps daily check-ins with loved ones or setting boundaries to be fully present with them.
• If your vision includes financial freedom, what behaviours align with that? Starting a certain type of business, spending money a different way, or learning about investments.

Observe the people in your life, what areas of their lives are they striving in? What habits have they incorporated in their life to make this happen?

And trust me resistance will arise, it always does. Comfort is seductive, but it leads to stagnation. Growth comes through resistance, much like building muscle through weightlifting. Your habits are the “weights” of your life, and consistency is what builds lasting strength.

Purpose-Driven Goals

Here’s the beauty of starting with a vision. Once your habits align with your vision, goals naturally fall into place. Instead of chasing disconnected objectives, you set goals that directly support the person you’re becoming.

• If your vision includes financial independence, a goal might be automating your savings or developing a side hustle.
• If your vision includes vibrant health, a goal might be running a 5K or cooking healthy meals each week.
• If your vision includes meaningful relationships, a goal might be weekly family dinners or practicing gratitude daily.

These goals are no longer random tasks—they’re purposeful actions rooted in your bigger vision.

Turn It Into A Game

Let’s turn this into a challenge:

1. Define Your Vision: Spend 30min to hour crafting your ideal life. Be specific and detailed. Write it as if it’s already happened. This will evolve over time, so don’t get stuck on making it perfect.
2. Identify Aligned Habits: Break your vision into habits. What does this version of you do daily, weekly, or monthly?
3. Set Purposeful Goals: Choose 1-3 goals that directly support these habits. Make them clear and measurable.
4. Track Progress: Check in with yourself each week. What’s working? What needs adjustment? Celebrate small wins.

The 2025 Shift

Goals alone won’t create the life you want. A clear vision will. Start with your bigger picture, align your habits, and let purposeful goals guide your actions.

When life gets challenging, and it will, a compelling vision keeps you focused and moving forward.

So, instead of asking, “What goal will I set for 2025?”

ask yourself, “What life am I ready to create?”