The end of the year is often a time when many of us reflect on our goals for the closing year and our progress.
It can also be a time when we experience disappointment and frustration if we feel like we haven’t achieved all we had hoped.
Perhaps you had goals to up-level your skills or make ambitious career moves, but things did not pan out the way you had hoped. Now you’re left feeling frustrated with yourself and pessimistic about the new year.
Before you spiral into disappointment and self-criticism, take a few deep breaths and acknowledge that you did your best with what you had.
As we approach a new year, it’s the perfect time to channel your energy into a fresh start with a framework that brings clarity and excitement — the C.D.S. Framework.
Before diving into the C.D.S. framework let’s first explore our default mindset and the shift that needs to occur.
The Trap of Negativity Bias
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
It’s human nature to focus on the negative. This deeply conditioned and automated tendency is known as the negativity bias.
Throughout evolution, our negativity bias has helped us survive.
However, in the realm of career growth, our negativity bias taints our mindset thus limiting our ability to clearly acknowledge the experiences that went well and feel the accompanying sense of gratitude.
Goals developed from this subpar mindset are inherently limited, falling far below our true capability.
Negativity bias might be our nature, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t another option — the positivity offset.
The positivity offset shifts your focus from what went wrong to what went right, fostering confidence and clarity as you set goals.
A Shift in Perspective – The Positivity Offset
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney
The positivity offset is the tendency to view reality positively, have positive expectations, and favour positive information.
Choosing this alternate option requires that we go against our conditioning and intentionally choose differently.
It’s akin to stopping and redirecting a train that already has momentum.
Once you’ve set the intention to embrace the positivity offset, you can move to the next step — incorporating the C.D.S. framework to set and achieve career goals aligned with your desires.
C.D.S.: A Framework for a Fresh Start
Frameworks are powerful tools that empower us with a path forward to practice and eventually master a new way of being.
C.D.S. — Celebrate, Dream, Strategize — is a simple and powerful 3-step framework that will help you approach the new year with clarity, gratitude, and focus.
It’s not about cramming your life full of goals.
It’s about focusing on what matters and setting yourself up for success in a way that feels achievable, motivating, and inspiring.
Celebrate
Before you dive into new dreams and plans, first take a moment to recognize and celebrate all that you’ve accomplished this year, no matter how small.
This first step helps you acknowledge that you’ve done the best you could and cultivates a mindset of gratitude for the journey ahead.
Making it to a new year is in itself an accomplishment.
4 Reflection Questions:
- What are three moments from this year that brought me fulfillment?
- What skills or strengths did I develop or improve this year?
- What feedback or recognition did I receive from others that I can celebrate?
- What lessons did I learn from challenges or setbacks?
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TIP: Write these moments down — it’s powerful to see your achievements on paper and reflect on them visually. Plus, when you need a reminder of how awesome you are, you can reflect on this list.
Dream
With your new state of gratitude and confidence in your capabilities, you can start to dream about the goals you’d like to achieve in the coming year.
Dream your own dream.
Dream big, get excited about what’s possible, and keep it grounded in a sense of possibility rather than pressure.
- Is this the year you finally stop playing small and secure a more senior position?
- Will you start your master’s or PhD studies?
- Is it the year that you step into the unknown and become the first entrepreneur in your family?
3 Reflection Questions:
- What is one bold goal I’ve been hesitant to pursue but want to prioritize this year?
- What does success look and feel like to me over the next 12 months?
- What does my ideal career, lifestyle, or personal growth look like?
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TIP: Document these – use words, images, mind-maps, and lots of colour. Have fun with this process.
Strategize
For this step, you’ll break your goals down into smaller actionable milestones. These small, measurable steps will help you stay on track and celebrate your progress.
For example, if you are searching for a new position your milestones might include the following:
- Defining your target job (position, salary, company culture, etc.).
- Updating your résumé to highlight relevant achievements.
- Building a tracker for job applications.
- Applying to five aligned roles weekly.
Each week that you successfully stick to your plan acknowledge your progress in a way that is meaningful to you — your favourite treat or sharing your progress with a trusted friend.
4 Reflection Questions:
- What are the first three steps I can take toward achieving my dream?
- Who can support or guide me as I work toward my goals?
- What obstacles might I encounter, and how can I address them in advance?
- How will I measure my progress, and how often will I check in with myself? Add these to your calendar with reminders.
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TIP: Life is dynamic, and your plans should be too. Incorporate some flexibility into your plans. Remember to give yourself the grace to adapt without losing sight of your ultimate goals.
Putting It All Together
C.D.S. (Celebrate, Dream, Strategize) is designed to guide you through a process that helps you step into the next year with a sense of gratitude, excitement, and a clear plan.
Celebrate your accomplishments, dream big, and strategize a clear, achievable path forward.
This year is not just another chance — it’s your opportunity to create a career and life that genuinely excites and fulfills you.
Let’s make it your best year yet!
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👋 Meet Andrea
Hello! I’m Andrea, Founder of Bliss Careers. I’m passionate about transforming careers by aligning people with their true values and strengths. Through Bliss Careers, I empower professionals to elevate their job search strategies, boost confidence, and thrive in work and life by integrating mindfulness and self-care.
