It seems impossible to change your life for the better when distractions and external influences bombard you. We are pulled in countless directions at work, home, and socially. Often, the needs of the ones we love the most come before our own. It’s easy to lose sight of ourselves, our dreams, and our goals. Death bed regrets are real, and many regrets are avoidable. Prioritizing yourself and your future matters. You matter. 

And though we know we want to change, sometimes, changing for the better seems overwhelming. Sometimes, particularly during times of overwhelm, we can look at our lives like hoarders who must clear out a home: where do we begin? What matters most? Should we give up before we even start?

All too often overwhelm is what keeps us stuck, not a lack of dreams or discipline.

Slow and steady wins the race. We can’t tackle everything all at once. But, we can peek behind proverbial doors in our soul and see what we can shift, pack up, move out, throw out, or give away. What can stay? What is useful? What is outdated? What is simply junk?

A better life begins with soul check-in, taking a personal inventory. 

Taking a personal inventory of what you do well, what you tolerate, like, dislike, want, and dream of is the first step to a better life.  

Regularly assessing our thoughts, actions, and habits allows us to unlock the potential for profound transformation. A better, happier life isn’t always a mysterious, unattainable treasure buried deep within a dangerous labyrinth. Sometimes, a better life is simply misplaced underneath a pile of mini-dramas, other people’s demands, and bad habits.

Think of a personal inventory as you would a trip of a lifetime. You wouldn’t go on an adventure of a lifetime without a plan, even a loose one. The same goes for life. You need a plan. You need to evaluate your resources, strengths, weaknesses, and goals. 

Sure, being a free-spirit may give you the occasional breathtaking view,  but without planning for basic resources like funds, food, and Google Maps, you risk getting lost or never arriving at your destination. 

Similarly, trying to change our lives for the better without periodically assessing our lives can lead to ineffective actions, frustration, resentment, and hopelessness.

What are five benefits of taking a personal inventory of your life, values, and goals?

1. Self-Awareness: Conducting a personal inventory allows us to observe our thoughts, emotions, and actions. We gain valuable insights into our strengths, weaknesses, and improvement areas. This process fosters self-awareness which is the cornerstone of personal growth. Growth is how we change our lives for the better.
2. Identifying Patterns: Our patterns are like markers along our journey. They guide us toward understanding ourselves and making positive changes. We identify recurring themes in our lives only when we take the time to look. Positive or negative, recognizing these patterns helps us to make better, stronger, more informed decisions. This helps us change our lives for the better.
3. Goal Alignment: How often do we abandon goals that seem important to us, like New Year resolutions that are forgotten three weeks later? Conducting a personal inventory helps us align our goals with our values and priorities. By clarifying what truly matters, we cultivate a sense of purpose. We break down the load into manageable parts and can make small changes over time. We avoid haphazard bursts of change that lead us to abandon our goals. Aligning our values, goals, and action steps helps us reach meaningful goals. This helps us change our lives for the better.
4. Course Correction: Life is filled with constant unforeseen twists and turns. Regularly taking stock of our progress enables us to course-correct as needed, ensuring we stay on the desired track. Whether we need to adjust our strategies, cultivate new habits, create clearer boundaries, or revise our approach, personal inventories empower us to remain limber and nimble despite life’s challenges. This helps us change our lives for the better. 
5. Self-Compassion: Personal inventories are a wonderful tool to cultivate self-compassion. Problem-solving with our weaknesses and imperfections in mind is healthy! Acknowledging who we are at our core makes it easier to work with ourselves instead of against ourselves. We learn to accept our quirks. We learn to treat ourselves with greater compassion and understanding. Self-compassion is a key component in changing our lives for the better. 

So, how do you do a Personal Inventory?

First, remember a personal inventory is not a to-do list. Racing through doesn’t save you time or effort in the long run. Take your time. Give yourself an afternoon or even a weekend to reflect. You want to feel comfortable that you are answering honestly and that your values, goals, and actions are being properly identified. 

Now, reflect on the following questions:

1. What is your main, overarching theme this year? Is it money? Is it battling loneliness? Relationships? Communication? Health? Keep the main theme the main thing. Smaller goals can all point toward your larger theme.
2. What do I want to release in the next 365 days? What no longer serves me?
3. What am I tolerating? 
4. What do I need to stop tolerating?
5. What do I want to add in the next 365 days?   
6. What would I like less of?
7. 365 days from now, what change will you be most grateful you made?
8. What could you START doing right that could have the greatest positive impact on your life? (START doing it!)
9. What could you STOP doing that could have the greatest positive impact on my life? (STOP doing it!)
10. What are your top 3-5 goals that you will make NON-NEGOTIABLE for the next 30 days, 90 days, 365 days (whatever seems manageable to you)?
11. What habits do I need to implement to reach those goals?
12. What self-sabotaging habits need to be addressed?
13. Why would my life improve if I reached my goals? What would I look like? Feel like? Sound like?
14. Who is one person who could help keep me accountable when I am wavering on my goals?

To change your life for the better, you must have a plan. A personal inventory not only helps you reach your goals more efficiently, but it also helps with your personal growth. Win-win for bettering your life!