2025 vision/values workbook

Ready or not, here we come

I love reflection/dreaming time for a new year, and this year I’m doing it a little differently.

As you know, if you’ve been following along this year, I’m deep into the values thing. YAY VALUES!!!!

I know New Year’s is the time for actionable goals, but I am moving away from goals for a couple of reasons:

#1: Goals sometimes frame your life as ‘happening’ in the future.

I get why it’s important to define success and to work towards things you want in your life. I’m all about that. But, I fight a constant temptation to think life exists in the future. Like, “Once I get through this meeting I can enjoy life….” or “After this quarter at work, life will be enjoyable…” And one thing I know - the only place life is found, the only place you have access to joy or a thriving life - is the present.

A values (vs. goals) framework is helping me believe that a thriving life is not on the other side of some achievement, it’s accessible here, in this moment, regardless of what is happening.

#2: Goals can be a little bit thwartable.

I used to define a ‘thriving life’ by things like having good quiet times with Jesus or showing up for friends when they’re in need, which are awesome things to build a life around, but I didn’t realize I was one chronic illness away from ruining the potential for a ‘thriving life.’

One thing Long Covid has taught me is that many of us have a framework of a thriving life that is dependent on producing, achieving, and being able-bodied. And I get that a lot of people ARE able-bodied, but I wonder if this contributes on a psychological level to the way we view the oldest among us - as less valuable or less capable of joy and delight and LIFE because their bodies don’t work a certain way.

I want to set a vision for my life that is always available for me.

If my goal is to go on a great family vacation, then that flight delay at the airport that is entirely outside of my control has the potential to ruin it. But, if my value is to enjoy my family, then the delay just changes the circumstances of how that works, it doesn’t get in the way. My circumstances may shape how my values play out, but they don’t change them.

So - in 2025, instead of goals, I’ve been identifying a couple of key values for my life, and then (because I love a habit tracker) I’m identifying habits or rhythms that show up in my life when I’m living in line with these values. I’m not trying to create a life I don’t have, I’m trying to be intentional about fully living the life that is mine.

I created a tool if you want to do this too! YAY WORKBOOKS!! The workbook will help you reflect on this year, process with Jesus, and dream about what it looks like to live a life that aligns with your values in the coming year.

Paid Subscribers - scroll down and you’ll find it linked below the line! (You can skip the rest of this email.)

For those who aren’t subscribed, you have two ways to get it:

1. Subscribe to this substack and get access. (Bonus: You also get access to all my posts and you get to support me as a writer/researcher - more to come on this! 🎉 🎊 🙌 ),

2. OR you can purchase it for $6.99 here.

Thank you and enjoy! Happy vision/dreaming time to all and to all a good night!!