The #1 Mistake People Make With Setting Goals

My darlings,

Before you rush headlong into the sparkle of a new year—fresh planners, fresh goals, fresh “this year I’ll finally get my life together” energy—I want you to pause.
Actually… I insist.

Before you set a single intention for 2026, you need to look back at 2025.
But not with judgement. Not with the voice of your inner cranky troll.
With love. With curiosity. With the willingness to rummage through the compost heap of the year gone by and find the worms of wisdom wriggling inside it.

In this episode, Tam and I talk about this in depth in this week’s episode, because babes… so many entrepreneurs skip this part.
Why?
Because they’re scared. Scared that looking back will make them feel like failures. Scared they’ll uncover disappointment, unmet goals, messy bits, grief, or goblins they’d rather avoid.

But avoiding the review doesn’t protect you.
It just drags your old baggage into the new year like a suitcase full of damp socks.

When you give yourself the gift of soul-archaeology—gentle digging, tender noticing, brave truth-telling—you turn your year into a Heroine’s Journey.
Not a checklist.
Not a report card.
A QUEST.

Here’s what we dive into:

• Why avoiding the review keeps you stuck and carrying baggage forward

• The “what worked and what didn’t” framework for life + biz (so simple, so powerful, so non-shamey)

• How to build nervous system capacity for financial review (no more melting into a puddle every time you open your accounting app)

• Processing grief, disappointment & uncomfortable feelings with compassion instead of self-flagellation

• Celebrating your heroine’s journey — goblins, detours, and all because every twist counts

• Mining for everyday miracles and wisdom gems hiding in the ordinary moments

• Using tarot, oracle cards & intuitive tools to reflect on your year with magic + meaning

My loves, your 2025 story deserves to be witnessed.

When you do, you walk into 2026 lighter, wiser, and so much more powerful. Enjoy!!!

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• My Brilliant Year Life Goals Workbook: leoniedawson.com/workbooks
• My Brilliant Year Business Goals Workbook: leoniedawson.com/workbooks
• Join the Academy for the 2026 Planning Retreat recording: leoniedawson.com/academy
• Free Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/shiningyear
• Podcast episode with Claire Wood on Money Mindset

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• Spotify
• Pocketcast
• Apple Podcasts

May all of your wildest dreams come true!

big love,