How to improve this year?

Early January has this weird pressure, right?Like you’re supposed to redesign your whole life in one sitting.That was me for years. I’d download a 30-question PDF, sit there trying to “reflect,” and three hours later have pages of thoughts with no clue what to actually do differently.By February, I’d forgotten most of it anyway.So, the last few years I’ve been testing what actually changes behavior vs what just sounds deep.Turns out all it takes is the right 10 questions and about 20 minutes of honesty.That’s what this newsletter is.I hope a couple of these 10 questions will make you stop and go, “Oh… THAT’S why last year felt off! ”Do it right, and your next 11 months will feel different.3 RulesWrite fast — Don’t edit. Set a timer for 20 minutes and keep it moving.First honest answer wins — No overthinking. Whatever comes to mind first is usually what’s trueUse paper — Don’t let this get buried in your notes app or a Notion graveyard.Part 1: The MirrorLooking back on your 20251. What happened last year? List 5 key moments, milestones, or memories.Years blur together when you don’t stop to name what actually happened. This question slows things down. When you list what stood out, patterns emerge. What mattered. What changed you?Pro tip: If you’re blanking, scroll back through your camera roll and find highlights. You capture what matters without realizing it. You’ll also find 47 screenshots of things you meant to buy and never did.2. What’s one thing you can do now that you couldn’t do a year ago?Growth is sneaky. It happens so gradually, you forget it’s even happening. This question forces you to acknowledge progress you’ve already normalized.You have something like this, too. So what’s one thing you can do now that past-you struggled with?3. If a stranger looked at your calendar and bank statement from last year, what would they say you value most?This one stings. It’s easy to say you value health, freedom, relationships, etc. But your calendar and credit card don’t lie. They show what actually got your time and attention (turns out Uber Eats double steak burritos from Chipotle is one of my core values 🤷🏻‍♂️)Once you see the gap, you know exactly what needs to change this year.4. Who had the biggest impact on you last year? What changed because of them?People shape us whether we like it or not. Some expand you, others drain you. And sometimes it’s not even someone you know personally. A podcast that hit at the right time. A creator who said something that rewired how you think. A friend who told you what you needed to hear instead of what you wanted to.Your answer shows you who to keep close in 2026.5. What’s something you said yes to that should’ve been a hell no?We’ve all got one. Mine started with ‘this will only take a weekend’ and ended four months later… The point is that every yes is a trade-off. When you say yes to the wrong thing, you’re quietly saying no to something better. Name the regret.Your answer to this question is how boundaries start forming naturally.6. What’s one thing you changed your mind on last year?We live in a world where people are terrified of changing their minds. You see people who do publicly get called “grifter” or “wishy-washy.” Like evolving is some kind of character flaw. But really, it’s evidence that you learned something.So what shifted last year? If nothing comes to mind, you were probably running on autopilot. And if something big changed, it’s worth knowing why.Part 2: The MapWhat will your 2026 look like?7. What do you need to let go of to move forward?Before you add anything new, subtract. Think if you have any old goals that don’t fit anymore, grudges you’re still carrying, or identities you’ve outgrown. You can’t grab what’s next for you this year if your hands are full trying to play catch-up from last year.8. What story are you telling yourself that’s keeping you stuck?If you’re a regular of this newsletter, you know where I’m going with this. Who you think you are is nothing but a story you keep telling yourself. “I’m bad with money. I missed my shot. If they really knew me, they’d leave too.” They’re just stories you repeated so long they started running your decisions.So If 2025 looked suspiciously like 2024, a story probably stayed in charge. Answer this question and spend some time picturing how good your life would be if you stopped believing the limiting story.9. What would make this year feel like you wasted it?I know, I know… this sounds negative. But it’s actually one of the most liberating questions you can ask. Everyone obsesses over what they want. Almost nobody defines what failure looks like for them. When you name it, you create a floor you refuse to fall through.10. If you could only accomplish THREE things this year, what would they be?If everything’s important, nothing is. Know which three goals get your ...