Aligned Goals: Ditch the 'Shoulds' for a Purposeful Year 

Let’s flip the script about setting goals. Any time we decide to create a fresh start, there’s a spark of hope and a sense of possibility. It might be at the beginning of the year, as we often see with New Year’s resolutions, or during other natural cycles like the Lunar New Year or personal milestones when we feel ready to begin again. These moments invite us to consider what we truly want to cultivate in our lives.

But all too often, the goals we set come from external expectations rather than inner alignment. Lose weight. Save money. Exercise more. While well-intentioned, these "should-based" resolutions often feel heavy, restrictive, and disconnected from who we truly are.

So instead of crafting a list of things we think we “should” do, what if we focused on creating Aligned Goals—intentions that feel expansive, purposeful, and deeply rooted in our core values and our Soul Plan?

A Tale of Two Gardens

Imagine you’re tending a garden. One day, you decide to plant flowers because your neighbour is planting flowers, and you think you should, too. You hastily throw seeds into the ground, without considering the soil, the sunlight, or the kind of flowers that actually thrive in your climate. Months later, you’re left with wilted plants and frustration.

Now picture this: You take time to assess your garden’s unique conditions. You choose plants that resonate with you - ones that align with the environment and the kind of beauty you’d love to see. You nurture them with care, and soon your garden blossoms in a way that feels uniquely yours.

Your goals are like that garden. When they’re aligned with your authentic self and values, they’re more likely to flourish. But when they’re based on external pressures or arbitrary standards, they often wither away, leaving you feeling unfulfilled.

Why Aligned Goals Matter

Aligned Goals honor your unique Soul Plan - the blueprint of your purpose and potential. I was reminded of this profoundly when I chose to become a Soul Plan teacher. Blue Marsden encouraged me to revisit my Soul Plan, and there it was: my Soul Destiny calling me to guide others using my Spiritual Talent 12-3 energy. That decision felt expansive, exciting, and deeply aligned with my purpose. It wasn’t a “should”; it was a soul-level “yes.”

When we set goals that align with our purpose and values, they carry a different energy. They feel lighter, more joyful, and deeply fulfilling. They’re not about ticking boxes; they’re about stepping into the fullest expression of who we are.

How to Create Aligned Goals

Here are some steps to help you move away from "should-based" resolutions and toward Aligned Goals:

1. Tune into the Energy

When you think about a potential goal, pause and sense the energy around it. Does it feel expansive or heavy? Exciting or draining? For example, instead of “I should exercise more,” ask yourself, “What kind of movement feels joyful and nourishing to me?” Perhaps it’s dancing, hiking, or yoga. Choose what lights you up.

2. Revisit Your Core Values

Your values are your inner compass. Ask yourself: “Does this goal align with what matters most to me?” For instance, if connection and community are core values, a goal like “join a local group or class” might resonate more than a solitary pursuit.

3. Look at the Bigger Picture

Consider how your goals align with your Soul Plan and purpose. If you’re unsure, reflect on the times you’ve felt most alive and fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you being? Those moments hold clues to your aligned path.

4. Choose a Power Word

A Power Word, as I shared in a previous blog, can act as an anchor for your intentions. It’s a single word that captures the energy you want to embody for the year. Words like "courage," "ease," or "abundance" can guide your choices and keep you aligned.

5. Make It Meaningful

Instead of vague goals like “eat healthier,” dig deeper. What does “healthier” mean to you? Perhaps it’s “cook vibrant, nourishing meals” or “practice mindful eating.” Specificity adds intention and clarity.

Expansive vs. Restrictive

Aligned Goals feel expansive. They open doors, spark curiosity, and invite growth.

Restrictive resolutions, on the other hand, often come from a place of lack or fear. They’re about fixing something we think is wrong with us. Aligned Goals celebrate who we are and help us step into more of our potential.

Use the Energy of the Season

If you are reading this at the beginning of the year and in the Northern Hemisphere then Winter energetically is the time for inner reflection and preparation for spring growth. It’s a time for germinating ideas and intentions in the dark, warm embrace of the earth, getting ready to break out them out into the world during the spring.

While we may live in an instantaneous, always-on technology age, personal growth and alignment unfold over time and so will your goals. Honour this process, and allow your intentions to mature and take root before they blossom by tuning into the external natural energies.

A Year That Feels Like You

This year, instead of chasing resolutions that feel like a chore, let’s create a year that feels like YOU. One that’s aligned with your purpose, values, and the energy you want to cultivate.

Start with your garden. Tend to it with care, plant seeds that feel right for you, and watch as it blooms in ways you never imagined. Aligned Goals aren’t just about achieving; they’re about becoming. 

Here is to a year of blossoming and shining - a soul growth journey worth taking.