What This Habit Helps You Do
This habit helps you pause, zoom out and get clear before you push forward.
Instead of jumping straight into action, you take a few minutes to understand what you are working towards, why it matters and what you already know about yourself. This makes everything that comes next feel steadier and more intentional.
Think of it as laying the groundwork before you start building.
Why It Works
Many people struggle not because they lack motivation, but because they are trying to change without clear direction or self-awareness.
Taking time to strengthen your foundations helps you:
- Set goals that actually matter to you
- Learn from past experience instead of repeating it
- Play to your strengths
- Plan around what tends to trip you up
This is not about judging yourself. It is about understanding yourself.
What to do
Set aside 10 to 15 quiet minutes. Write your answers down. Short answers are fine.
Get clear on direction
- What would you like to work towards right now?
- If this went well, what would be different in your life?
This does not need to be perfect or final. It just needs to be honest.
Understand why it matters
- Why is this important to you at this stage of your life?
- What would improving this allow you to do or feel?
If a goal does not connect to something meaningful, it will be much harder to stick with.
Give it a realistic timeframe
- By when would you like to see progress?
- What feels like a realistic timeframe for you right now?
This is about guidance, not pressure.
Learn from the past
- What have you tried before that helped, even a little?
- When has this felt easier in the past? What was different then?
You are looking for clues, not gold medals.
- What have you tried before that didn’t work as planned?
- What got in the way last time you tried something like this?
This information will help you plan smarter this time.
Know your personal resources
- What personal strengths or skills can you bring to this?
- What are you already good at that could help here?
Then:
- What tends to trip you up or make this harder?
- Where do you know you’ll need extra support or planning?
This is about being realistic, not critical.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing through this step
- Looking for “perfect” answers
- Turning this into a self-criticism exercise
- Comparing your answers to anyone else’s
There are no right or wrong responses here.
What You’ll Need
- A notebook or notes app
- A quiet few minutes
- Honesty and curiosity
That’s it.
How to Know It’s Working
- Your goals feel clearer and more grounded.
- Your plans feel more realistic.
- You feel less like you are starting from scratch.
- You approach change with more confidence and less frustration.
Your Next Check-In
Bring your answers to our next session. We will use them to shape your plans, choose the right habits to focus on and build an approach that fits you.
This is not a test to pass or fail.
It is a foundation you can keep coming back to whenever you need to reset.