Peeling Back the Layers of Your Values to Achieve Your Vision for the New Year

Candice Suarez
3 days ago
3 min read

You all should know by now how I feel about New Year's Resolutions. Without the substance beneath them, they are simply wishes. Wishes that easily get pushed to the side when our life gets in the way. This is why I revisit this values - vision - goals process every year. Although my "values" of life in general remain consistent, my vision shifts a bit as I make progress and learn new things, so by re-assigning values that need to come to the forefront, I am more aligned and focused on my progress.

The key to lasting progress lies deeper than just the outcomes we chase. It’s about understanding the core values that drive our habits and systems, which in turn shape those outcomes. I like to think of this process as peeling back the layers of an onion—each layer revealing something essential that supports the next.

Understanding the Layers: Outcomes, Habits, and Values

Imagine your goals as the outer layer of an onion. These are the visible results you want—whether it’s improving your health, advancing your career, or deepening relationships. But outcomes alone don’t sustain change.

Beneath the outcomes lie your habits and systems. These are the daily actions and routines that support your goals. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, your habits might include regular training sessions, proper nutrition, and rest.

At the core of the onion are your values and identity. These are the beliefs and principles that shape who you are and what matters most to you. When your habits align with your core values, they become easier to maintain and more meaningful.

Examples of Core Values and How They Influence Habits

Here are some common core values and examples of habits they might inspire:

Integrity

Habit: Being honest in communication, following through on commitments.

Health

Habit: Prioritizing exercise, meal planning, and sleep.

Connection

Habit: Scheduling regular time with friends and family, active listening.

Creativity

Habit: Setting aside time for brainstorming, experimenting with new ideas.

Discipline

Habit: Creating and sticking to a daily routine, minimizing distractions.

Building Systems That Reflect Your Values

Once you identify your core values, the next step is to build systems that reflect them. Systems are the structures and processes you put in place to support your habits and goals.

For example, if balance is a core value, your system might include setting boundaries around work hours or scheduling downtime. If learning is a value, your system could involve a weekly review of new books, podcasts, or courses.

Systems make it easier to maintain habits because they reduce the need for constant decision-making. They create an environment where your values naturally guide your actions.

HERE is a copy of the values activity for you to work through this week.

Save the Date!

It's here!!! I'm so excited to announce our first annual planning retreat - Draft Your Year with Pencil and Purpose! This is the perfect opportunity for you to get away to the beach, spend time in reflection and planning, and do the personal work necessary to make your 2026 the best year yet! Dates are January 22-25, with a Thursday evening arrival and departure Sunday morning. This will be for members and other guests. Click HERE for details and the link to sign up!

Office Hours: No more office hours in December. Enjoy your holiday. This is for Editor's Circle Coaching Members as well as any Guided Revision Coaching Members who would like to touch base between scheduled coaching appointments. HERE is the link to schedule a 30-minute slot

The Weekly Draft: happens every Sunday evening at 7pm at this link. Come prepared to reflect on the past week and draft the upcoming week. It is meant to be a heads down, co-planning time, with me being available to share strategies and/or answer questions. Join me HERE

The Reflection Room: We will take a break from this until the new year, at which time we will switch to an evening session. The new day and time will be Tuesdays @ 7:30pm starting January 6.

Join me HERE