Creating Your Best Year Ever: Rise, Thrive, and Shine in 2026
Creating Your Best Year Ever: Rise, Thrive, and Shine in 2026
As the new year approaches, many of us feel that spark of possibility for an opportunity to start fresh, set intentions, and design the kind of life and business we truly want. But creating yourbest year everdoesn’t just happen by chance. It takes clarity, focus, and a system to bring those big dreams into reality.
One of the most powerful frameworks for growth comes from Gary Keller’s bookThe One Thing: the 7 Circles of Growth.These seven areas of life give us a complete picture of where to invest our energy if we want to thrive personally and professionally.
The 7 Circles of Growth
Spiritual Life – Aligning with your values, purpose, and inner strength.
Physical Health – Caring for your body through exercise, nutrition, and rest.
Personal Life – Making time for hobbies, joy, and activities that fill your cup.
Key Relationships – Nurturing the people who matter most.
Job – Bringing focus, systems, and excellence to the work you do daily.
Business – Building and scaling an enterprise that supports your vision.
Finances – Managing money with intentionality so you can create freedom.
When we set goals for a new year, it’s tempting to zero in on just one or two areas, usually business or finances. But true success comes from creating balance across all seven circles. When one is neglected, the others feel the weight.
Setting Goals for the Upcoming Year
Start with reflection: What worked in 2025? What didn’t? Where did you grow, and where do you feel stuck? From there, identify one or two big goals in each circle. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a list of 50 intentions. Clarity beats complexity every time.
For example:
In your business, maybe your goal is to implement stronger systems for lead conversion.
In your personal life, it could be committing to one unplugged weekend per quarter.
In your finances, perhaps it’s saving for that dream family trip.
Each goal should be specific, measurable, and tied to your “why.”
From Goals to Reality: The Path Forward
Once your goals are clear, the key is building a system to achieve them. A few best practices:
Break big goals into small steps. Ask yourself: What’s the ONE thing I can do this week to move this forward?
Time block what matters most. Protect space in your calendar for your highest priorities.
Build accountability. Share your goals with a coach, mentor, or mastermind group who will help you stay on track.
Celebrate progress. Wins compound over time. Acknowledge them and let the momentum build.
Rise, Thrive, and Shine in 2026
Your best year ever won’t be built by accident. It happens when you intentionally design a life and business that reflects your values, vision, and goals. By focusing on the 7 Circles of Growth, setting intentional goals, and committing to the systems that will get you there, you can rise higher, thrive in every area, and shine brighter than ever before.
2026 is waiting. The only question is: are you ready to create it?
