When you create a vision for 2025, you’re giving yourself direction, purpose, and clarity.A well-crafted vision touches every part of your life. It connects your physical health to your personal growth. And it ensures you are moving forward with balance and intention.Take this week to build a vision board for 2025 that takes care of every aspect of your life. Start with the wheel of life, and pick at least one goal for each section. Then, find other goals for sections in which you are performing worst.[DOWNLOAD THE FREE INFOGRAPHIC <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/p/the-bold-vision">HERE</a>]

A few years ago, I had a brilliant New Year’s resolution: I was going to become a morning person. You know, the kind who wakes up before sunrise, drinks a green smoothie and writes three pages of a journal.January was great. I was waking up at 6 a.m. I was having healthy breakfasts. And I wrote a journal for a while. But in a few weeks, the journaling habit stopped. I started to crave more sugary breakfasts. And waking up at 6 a.m. became too much.By mid-February, I had failed all my New Year’s resolutions. By the end of the year, I was drowning in unmet goals and feeling defeated.

New Year's Resolutions

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[The Challenge] - Your Best Year Yet

Creating a vision is like building a compass. It’s not about setting goals but aligning them with the different areas of your life. This is where the wheel of life comes in — a tool I use every year to build a balanced and fulfilling roadmap.But today, we’re not only talking about the wheel of life. We will try to bring that concept to the next level. Today, I’ll walk you through how to create a powerful vision for 2025.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">We will start by assessing our life with the wheel of life.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Then, we will find a goal for every key area of our lives.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">And finally, we will put everything into our vision board.</li></ul>

The Bold Vision

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Purpose : </li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Take a course to improve your skills.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Set a revenue or impact goal for your work.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Volunteer for a cause you care about.</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Finance : </li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Build a three-month emergency fund.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Track your spending for three months.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Invest in a long-term savings plan.</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Growth : </li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Learn a new language or skill.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Attend a workshop or conference.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Start a side project you’re passionate about.</li></ol>

Purpose, Finance & Growth Goals

Most people don’t think about their goals on New Year’s Eve. They want to party. And that’s completely fine. But for the people who make resolutions, you can’t pretend your job’s finished once you write your goals on a sticky note.I know it’s a romantic idea — keeping it analogical and finding that note next year. But there are two problems with that:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">First, you won’t find that note in 90% of the cases. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">And second, you will probably never check what you wrote on it and only remember it in December next year. </li></ul>

Why a Vision Board Matters? (1)

As you can see above, I’ve written about this concept before. But here’s a quick refresher on the nine categories of the wheel.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Physical : Your health and fitness.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Mental : Your emotional well-being.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Spiritual : Your sense of connection, whether through faith, mindfulness, or something else.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Love : Your romantic relationships.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Family : Your connections with relatives.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Friends : The bonds that give you a sense of belonging.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Purpose : Your career or mission in life.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Finance : Your financial health and stability.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Growth : Your personal development. </li></ul>The first step is to assess where you are right now.

1 — Fill Your Wheel of Life (2)

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Physical :</li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Train for a 10K run.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Try a new fitness class (yoga, kickboxing, etc.).</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Build a consistent sleep routine.</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Mental :</li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Read 12 books (one per month).</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Start journaling for 10 minutes a day.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Practice gratitude by listing three things daily.</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Spiritual :</li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Meditate for 10 minutes every morning.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Explore a new spiritual or philosophical practice.</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Spend time in nature weekly.</li></ol>

Physical, Mental & Spiritual Goals

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Next Steps

Have you ever noticed you start seeing your dream car everywhere after deciding you want it? That’s your RAS at work. And a vision board keeps your goals front and center. It helps your brain spot opportunities to make them happen.Think of it as your GPS for 2025. It keeps you on track. It reminds you of your purposes. And it makes the journey more exciting.Let’s dive into it.

Why a Vision Board Matters? (3)

The wheel of life is a visual representation of the key areas of your life: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Love, Family, Friends, Purpose, Finance, and Growth.Imagine each area as a spoke in a wheel. The wheel can’t roll if one is too short. A balanced wheel means a smoother ride. So, if you neglect one area, the journey feels bumpy.

1 — Fill Your Wheel of Life (1)

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The Challenge

Where are you thriving? Where do you feel stuck? This snapshot will help you see where to focus your energy in 2025.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Assess Each Area : Rate each area on a scale of 1 to 10. </li></ul><ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Identify the Gaps : Look for areas where you feel stuck or neglected. This year, my biggest gaps were in health and mental health, two things I rarely prioritized.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Visualize Balance : Imagine what a balanced wheel would look like for you. It doesn’t mean every area scores a perfect 10, but each one should feel cared for. </li></ol>

How to Fill the Wheel of Life

Once you’ve assessed your wheel of life, it’s time to create specific goals for each area. These don’t have to be monumental. But they should align with what you want. Here are a few ideas for inspiration (you can find more in the related article) :

2 — Craft New Goals for Each Area

Studies show that people who visualize their goals are significantly more likely to achieve them. In 2011, a study by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that participants who visualized their desired outcomes felt more motivated and performed better.But it’s not just about motivation.Vision boards work because they engage your brain’s reticular activating system (RAS) — the part of your brain that filters information and highlights what’s important.

Why a Vision Board Matters? (2)

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Love :</li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Plan one meaningful date night per week.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Practice active listening in conversations.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Write a love letter to your partner every month.</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Family :</li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Schedule monthly get-togethers with extended family.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Call a relative once a week.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Start a family tradition, like Sunday dinners.</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Friends : </li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Reconnect with a friend you’ve lost touch with.</li><li class="ql-indent-1 ql-align-justify">Plan a group trip or outing.</li><li class="ql-align-justify ql-indent-1">Make time for regular one-on-one meetups.</li></ol>

Love, Family & Friends Goals

The final step is bringing your vision to life. <ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Break It Down : Big goals felt overwhelming, so I broke them into bite-sized steps. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Build Momentum with Micro Wins : Start with small steps that lead to bigger achievements.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Review Your Vision Regularly : Take 10 minutes every Sunday to revisit your goals.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Schedule Time for Your Goals : Block time on your calendar for specific actions. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Adjust as Needed : Life happens, and goals shift. The key is to stay flexible while keeping your vision in mind. </li></ol>By taking consistent action, your vision won’t only be a dream. It will become your reality.

4 — Align Vision and Actions

Once you’ve outlined your goals, it’s time to bring them to life visually. Here’s how to create a vision board (infographic in the article) :<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Reflect on Your Wheel of Life : Consider your goals for each area. What visuals or quotes represent those goals?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Gather Your Supplies : Collect magazines, printouts, markers, or use a digital tool.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Create Sections : Divide your board into areas that mirror the wheel of life.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Add Personal Touches : Add photos, words, or symbols that resonate deeply with you. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Place It Where You’ll See It : Keep it visible to stay inspired. </li></ol>

3 — Build Your Vision Board

Kickstart your New Year with a bold vision! Discover actionable strategies for setting powerful, achievable goals that align with your aspirations.

Next Steps

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Next Steps

Before you Go

#2. The Neurology of Ownership