Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before 2026 Begins

Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before 2026 Begins

Every December, we're bombarded with prompts about goal-setting and planning for the year ahead. But before you jump into the "what" of next year, I want to invite you into the "who."

Because the person you are becoming matters more than any goal you could set.

These five reflection questions are designed to help you get clear on what wants to emerge in you—not just what you want to accomplish. Sit with them. Write about them. Let them reveal what's true.

Question 1: What did this year teach me about myself that I didn't know before?

Not what you accomplished. Not your wins and losses. What did you learn about who you are? What patterns did you notice? What surprised you about your capacity, your limits, your desires?

Self-awareness—the capacity to see ourselves clearly—is the foundation of all growth. Leaders who regularly reflect on their patterns and tendencies consistently outperform those who don't, according to studies from the Center for Creative Leadership.

This question invites you into honest self-examination, not self-judgment. What emerged in you this year? What did you discover about your edges, your fears, your strengths?

Question 2: What am I ready to release that I've been carrying too long?

Maybe it's a limiting belief. Maybe it's a relationship that's run its course. Maybe it's a way of working that no longer serves you. Maybe it's resentment, or perfectionism, or the need to prove yourself.

In Buddhist practice, there's a teaching about clinging—how we create suffering by holding onto things past their natural conclusion. The practice of letting go isn't about giving up; it's about creating space for what wants to come next.

Neuroscience research on habit change shows that we can't just eliminate old patterns—we have to replace them with new ones. So as you consider what you're ready to release, also ask: What wants to fill that space?

Question 3: Where have I been living out of alignment with my values?

This one requires courage. Where did you compromise? Where did you say yes when your whole body was screaming no? Where did you prioritize appearance over authenticity, or achievement over integrity?

Values-based leadership research, particularly the work of Brené Brown and James Kouzes, shows that leaders who operate in alignment with their stated values experience less burnout, higher satisfaction, and greater influence. Conversely, the cognitive dissonance of living out of alignment creates a chronic stress response that impacts both health and performance.

This isn't about shame. It's about honesty. Naming where you've been out of alignment is the first step toward re-aligning.

Question 4: What would I do if I trusted myself completely?

Not if you had more money, more time, more support. If you trusted yourself—your wisdom, your intuition, your capacity—what would you start? What would you stop? What conversation would you have? What risk would you take?

Belief in our own capacity is often the deciding factor in whether we attempt challenging goals. We don't fail because we lack ability; we fail because we don't trust that we have it.

Vedic philosophy speaks of "atman"—the true self that is wise, whole, and already complete. What if you operated from that knowing? What becomes possible when you trust your inherent capacity?

Question 5: How do I want to feel at the end of 2026?

Not what you want to have done. How you want to feel. Peaceful? Proud? Connected? Expansive? Grounded?

This question shifts the focus from outcomes to states of being. And here's what's powerful about that: You can engineer your life for specific feelings. If you want to feel peaceful, you can make decisions that prioritize peace. If you want to feel connected, you can invest in relationships. If you want to feel expansive, you can say yes to growth opportunities.

Research shows that people who design their lives around desired emotional states—rather than external achievements—report higher life satisfaction and greater resilience in the face of challenges.

Sitting with the Questions

These aren't questions you answer in five minutes. They're meant to be lived with. Journaled about. Revisited as the year closes and the new one begins.

The clarity you're seeking isn't out there. It's already within you, waiting for the space to emerge.

Which of these five questions is calling to you most? Start there.