#426 - THE YEAR AHEAD DOESN'T NEED TO BE PERFECT - JUST INTENTIONAL

Today, we explore the idea that the year ahead does not need to be perfect, it simply needs to be intentional:

‘The year ahead does not need perfection. It just needs intention.’

Here are three key takeaways you can expect:

1. Why real, lasting change comes from pausing and listening, not pressure or perfection.

2. What it truly means to live intentionally, and how alignment changes everything.

3. Simple ways to begin creating an intentional year, starting right now.

Take this opportunity to learn how to slow down, reconnect with what truly matters to you, and make calmer, more aligned decisions as you move through the year.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonated most with you - so please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

…and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

P.S. If you’re ready for guided support to make 2026 brilliant for you, explore Dream Life Coaching here: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/course 💛

SHOW NOTES:

• Stop, Start, Continue - free workbook here
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Follow Kristina on Insta and TikTok
• If you feel it's time to take a leap and invest in you, join:
  • My Platinum Coaching Program where in January our focus will be on Plan Your Year 2026. Laying the foundation with clarity, vision, and intentionality. Learn more here.  
    
  • My Dream Business Book Club here. In January, we'll be reading and learning from: Building a Story Brand 2.0, by Donald Miller. Learn how to clarify your message, and genuinely stand out. 
  • My online personal Growth Book Club GROW, January, where we'll be reading and squeezing the learnings out of The Five-Year Crusade: The Easy Way to Achieve Your Impossible Goals, by John Soforic. Learning how to rest - the smartest life hack of all. Learn more here.

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPTION:

Welcome back. I hope you are having a beautiful start to 2026.

Right now, I am in Norway with my family, skiing and soaking up time together. Moments like these remind me how grateful I am that I have created a dream life built around work I love, travel, and family. I never take that for granted.

Before we talk about the year ahead, I want to say this clearly.

You do not need to have it all figured out.
And you certainly do not need to be perfect.

The year ahead does not need perfection.
It just needs intention.

A dream life is not a perfect life. It is a life you love and enjoy creating. It is about the journey, not the destination.

January can feel loud.

You will see people on social media setting big goals, making bold declarations, and reinventing themselves overnight.

If that excites you, that is wonderful.

But if you are feeling tired, unsure, frustrated, or quietly reflective, that is just as valid.

Because real, lasting change does not come from pressure.
It comes from pausing.
From listening.
From choosing what truly matters, gently and honestly.

That is what intention gives us.

What intentional really means

Intentional does not mean doing more.
It means doing what matters, on purpose.

It means asking yourself:
What do I want this year to stand for?
What do I want more of in my days?
What no longer fits the life I am creating?

An intentional year is not rushed.
It is aligned.

And alignment changes everything.

Some of the most powerful years of my life did not begin with big plans. They started with a quiet moment, pen in hand, asking myself what I truly wanted next.

Not what I should want.
Not what looked good on paper.
But what felt right.

Every time I take the time to intentionally plan, to dream, reflect, and gently map out the year ahead, something shifts.

I feel calmer.
Clearer.
More grounded.

And I make better decisions all year long.

How to create an intentional year, starting now

Let me share a few simple ways you can begin.

First, decide how you want to feel this year.

Before goals.
Before plans.

Ask yourself, how do I want to feel as I move through this year?

Calm.
Focused.
Present.
Energised.

Write it down. This becomes your anchor. Your compass.

When life gets busy, and it will, you can come back to this and ask yourself, does this choice support how I want to feel?

Second, make space to actually think.

This is the part we often skip.

We want clarity, but we do not slow down enough to hear ourselves.

That is why planning works best when you step out of your day to day life, get things out of your head and onto paper, and give yourself permission to reflect properly.

Not rushed.
Not squeezed in.
But supported.

Third, plan your year.

You do not need a perfect plan. You need a meaningful one.

Intentional planning sets direction, not rigid rules.
It helps you focus on what matters and let the rest unfold.

You can change course.
You can evolve.
You can grow.

This brings me to something I would love to invite you into.

This January, I am creating intentional space for us to plan the year ahead together.

Not in a way that feels overwhelming.
Not chasing perfection.

But in a way that feels calm, grounding, inspiring, and deeply aligned with the life you want to live.

We will reflect on where you are, get clear on what matters most, and gently map out the year ahead, one meaningful step at a time.

If you have been craving clarity instead of chaos, focus instead of pressure, and a plan that actually supports you, I would absolutely love you to join me.

You do not need to be ready.
You do not need big goals yet.

You just need a willingness to pause and choose intentionally.

Before we finish, I want to leave you with this question.

If you gave yourself the gift of intentional planning this January, what could change for you this year?

More ease.
More progress.
More joy in the everyday.

You deserve that.

And you do not have to do it alone.

Thank you for being here with me. For listening. For caring about how you live your life.

I cannot wait to plan with you this January and create a year that feels truly, beautifully yours.