The news cycle that rang through the end of 2024 hinted that the world was falling apart. Talk of inflation, impending war, and rising crime has caused personal growth to feel stifled. Bitter arguments about the elections, past and present, have swirled all around, possibly interfering with family relationships. As frustrating as this world can seem, I can boldly state that nothing has the power to stop you from creating the life you want! If you want to build something wonderful with your life, you can.

The new year is an excellent time to commit or recommit to creating your best self. If you are holding back, hesitating to create your best life until after some small or large event has taken place, you may never get around to it. Playing the “as soon as” game is paralyzing: as soon as I lose weight, I’ll go to the gym; as soon as my spouse is nice, I’ll be more romantic. If you are stuck in this cycle of procrastination, you will never “just do It.” 

There is a solution! The key to getting “unstuck” is as easy as honoring the four stages of creation.  

Stage One

Have a vision! The second habit Steven R. Covey teaches in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is that you must begin with the end in mind. A clear, concise vision of the desired result is a blueprint for an outcome you desire—literally a spiritual creation of your hopes and dreams. Once you can see the vision and all its parts clearly, you can write them down and shift to stage two. 

Stage Two

Generate a list of resources that you may need to accomplish your vision. Gather these resources before you do anything else. Although you may have many dreams and goals in mind, focus on only one of those goals; no multitasking allowed.

Schedule time on your calendar to be intentional about your dream. Gather your resources with pure intent. For example, if you want a more romantic marriage, you must first see the vision of what a happy marriage is. If one of the resources you try to gather is to wait until your spouse is nice, you're going to lose control of your dream while waiting on your spouse. Having pure intent would mean that you are committed to being romantic, no matter what. The resources you gather must be things you can do no matter what.

Stage Three 

Organize all of the resources you have listed onto a daily plan or schedule. Use a calendar so you can be honest with yourself about the time you have to dedicate to your goals and dreams. Everyone has 168 hours a week, but you already have mandatory things on your schedule that take up most of those hours. You can use the time left over (after sleep, meal prep, parenting, work) to set and achieve your goals and dreams.

In this stage of creation, you must be honest about what you can get done each week. If you commit to a five hour date once a week and it fits in your schedule, it will get done! Look at your task list, determine how long each task will take, and then place the task on your schedule. Giving your tasks a home on your schedule and then honoring the schedule makes you an unstoppable creator. 

Stage Four

This is the action stage. You have a clear vision of your goal or dream. You have resources ready or know where to gather them. You have a plan that is clear and written down. Now, do what your plan directs. Every step you take requires that you return and report the result to your vision of the result. If what you produce with the action gets you what you envisioned, keep building. If you did not get the desired result, change and do something different.

For example, let's imagine that you have set the goal of having a happy marriage. As part of your action plan, you organize a huge, expensive date. However, when paying for the meal, your credit card gets declined, and you fight with your spouse about money for three hours after leaving the restaurant. This is not the result you wanted! Don’t give up. On your next date, figure out the finances beforehand, and use the cash you budgeted. More than likely, this date will create laughter and fun in the marriage, and you will move toward your desired goal.

If you are wise, picture in your mind the dreams you have for the future, and manage your time on a calendar. It is possible to end procrastination and achieve your dreams. Take some time this month to determine what hopes and dreams you share with your spouse or loved ones for the 2025 year. Then with real intent, be a creator.