The 12-Month Celebration
Setting goals that matter by answering one simple question
I find it helpful to think about what I want out of life at different time frames.
In a previous post, I talked about how I set my weekly goals and my review system for tracking my progress. I’ve also shared my Odyssey Plan in another post, which outlines where I want to be in 5 years.
This time, I want to focus on how I approach my annual goals using The 12-Month Celebration. It's a prompt that asks me to answer the following question:
"What do I want to celebrate with friends or loved ones 12 months from now?"
It’s a simple question, but it helps me visualize the things I want to have and the moments I want to experience. If you’re ever in the mood to set the direction for your life this year, this prompt is a great way to clarify what matters to you.
Here’s what I aim to celebrate a year from now in terms of health, wealth, and relationships.
🏃🏼 Health
What I Want to Celebrate: Being the fittest and healthiest I have ever been
What this looks like:
Being filled with positive energy all day (or at least in most days)
Waking up with enough sleep and feeling excited to live my day
Being able to play a sport I enjoy (probably basketball) at least twice a month
Why does this matter to me?
I want to live my best life every day, and a big part of that depends on my health and fitness. A strong body makes a strong mind, so achieving this goal will let me be my best self more often. Having more energy also allows me to do more things, like spending time with loved ones even after a long workday.
🏆 Wealth
What I Want to Celebrate: Achieving my freedom number of ₱80,000 in monthly income
What this looks like:
Being able to provide enough financial support to my family while having enough freedom to buy things and experiences that I want
Getting extra income from doing something I genuinely enjoy (most likely related to writing, education, or lifestyle design)
Still being able to work at a pace that is comfortable for me so I don’t burn myself out every other week
Why this matters to me:
I want to earn enough money so that I don’t have to worry about bills and expenses anymore. I think earning P80,000 every month is enough for me to provide for my siblings’ education while also giving myself the freedom to do stuff I want like travel, meet friends from distant cities, or buy myself a comfier mattress. Achieving my freedom number would also provide me with more security and enable me to afford opportunities that could accelerate my growth.
💙 Relationships
What I Want to Celebrate: Having built a thriving community of at least 10 people who are committed to living a more intentional life
What this looks like:
Being surrounded with people who are on a similar path as me (finding the others)
Having people I could hang out with regularly to talk about goals that matter to us, the progress we’re making, and what we learned along the way (or to simply keep each other company)
Being able to tell myself that I made meaningful relationships with the people I met within the community and seeing them as friends I can cherish for a lifetime
Why does this matter to me?
I'm not yet sure where I'm headed, but I know I want to keep exploring and designing a life that works best for me. The problem is that being on a Pathless Path can feel lonely. The Philippines isn’t a country that celebrates non-traditional paths, so it’s hard to find people who are on the same journey as me. I want to build a community because I want to inspire people to realize the same things I did, so that they, too, can explore new paths and create their own. Ultimately, my goal is to lead a life where I can create meaningful change within my community, perhaps as a means of discovering or fulfilling my purpose. I also think it’s cool to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique stories to share.
In 12 Months…
The thing I want to celebrate the most is that I've given my best to building a life I truly love.
My goals will change over time, but I hope my passion for exploring new things and continuing to learn never fades. I also pray I never forget my values while striving for a better life for myself and others. This serves as a reminder to slow down from time to time.
One thing I'm certain of is that I'll keep working on my goals. Not because I'm hardworking or better than anyone else, but because I'm aware of what I lack.
It's important to realize that I only want something because I see it as something I don't yet have. So while striving to reach my goals, it's equally important to practice expressing gratitude for the things I do have. To realize that I’m already blessed with many beautiful things. Because while achieving my goals may lead me to a better life, I must never forget that I’m already living a good life.
Here’s to having a meaningful year ahead.
💭 Quote I’m Thinking About
Zach Pogrob on Obsession:
The goal is to combine your dream as a kid, your obsession as an adult, with something the world desperately needs. Everything is else is a distraction. The maze of figuring this out is the hard part, and the fun part.
❓ Question I’m Asking
What would happen if I stopped looking for new ideas and simply focused on the best idea I have right now?
📝 How It’s Going:
💪🏼 — I’m on a 3-week workout streak! It’s the very first since the pandemic started.
✨ — Finished reading The Alchemist, which probably prompted me to write about my dreams in this post (at least my dreams for next year).
🏪 — Started reading Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. It now has one of my most favorite opening lines, mostly because of how much it drew me in. The book’s first sentence reads: “Ever since my mom died, I cry in H Mart.”
🏋🏼 — Watched Wrestlemania for the first time in 10 years just to witness the Cody Rhodes story. I might have cried a bit while watching. There’s really something about your childhood faves that always sticks with you even after you left it behind for many years.
🚀 — I hosted my first weekly review session last Sunday. My goal of having at least 3 people join wasn’t accomplished, but I had a really great chat with
. It also felt nice to be able to take my first steps in community building. I might try doing it in my local community next to see if it works better.
love the authenticity and commitment to bettering yourself. looking forward to continue growing with you!
Love all the public accountability you've been doing. Count me in as one of your 10 ;)