What can a child’s Christmas wish list teach us about setting goals for 2026?
Every December, you can spot it instantly: a child sitting cross-legged on the living-room floor, a toy catalog opened wide, a stack of markers beside them. They flip through each page with wonder, circling everything that sparks joy. Not just the one thing they “might” get. Not the most reasonable item. Everything.
Kids don’t censor their Christmas lists. They don’t worry about being unrealistic. They don’t ask, “Is this too much?” They simply dream big… and expect that something magical might happen.
Somewhere on the way to adulthood, we forget how to do that.
We stop allowing ourselves to want more. We shrink our dreams to something manageable. We pick goals that sound practical instead of goals that stir our hearts.
And then we wonder why our motivation drops off by February, why our progress stalls, or why life feels more like maintenance than momentum.
But what if the problem isn’t your discipline or your planning?
What if the problem is that your goals are too small?
Why Kids Dream Big—And Adults Stop
What strikes me most about a child’s Christmas list isn’t the number of items they write down—it’s the unfiltered hope behind it. Kids operate with a possibility mindset. If they’ve seen it, imagined it, or heard about it from a friend on the playground, it goes on the list.
There’s no hesitation. No judgment. No fear of disappointment. Just pure, unrestrained desire.
That willingness to think big is something adults often lose. We tend to talk ourselves out of what we want before we even let the thought land. We become masters at pre-editing our dreams:
- “There’s no way I could do that this year.”
- “That’s too expensive.”
- “I don’t have time.”
- “That’s not realistic.”
And just like that, the spark is gone.
How Our Goals Shrink as We Grow Up
Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we learn to stay in the safe zone. We’re told to make SMART goals. We’re encouraged to be responsible and grounded. And while there’s nothing wrong with thoughtful planning (in fact, I built Wholistic Productivity around smart planning), there’s a difference between being strategic and setting the bar so low that the goal no longer inspires you.
We start creating goals like:
- “Organize the closet.”
- “Try to work out once a week.”
- “Maybe explore a hobby.”
These aren’t dreams—they’re tasks.
And tasks don’t change your life. They don’t awaken your excitement. They don’t align you with who you’re becoming.
So of course we struggle to stay consistent. Our goals don’t lift our eyes toward the horizon anymore.
The Cost of Thinking Small When Setting Goals
When you think small, motivation becomes a battle. You’re pushing yourself through obligation rather than being pulled forward by meaning. That creates:
- A lack of emotional connection
- A sense of drifting
- A feeling that every year looks the same
- A nagging suspicion that you’re capable of more
This is exactly why so many people feel unfulfilled even when they’re achieving their “realistic” goals. The goals themselves aren’t big enough to shape a compelling story.
The truth is simple: inspiring goals inspire action.
What If You Created an “Adult Christmas List” for 2026?
Now let’s flip the script.
What if, before you create your 2026 goals, you gave yourself permission to dream like that kid on the floor with the toy catalog? No limitations. No filtering. No worrying about how.
What would go on your Adult Christmas List?
Think about your three Pillars—Professional, Personal, and Purpose-Driven. Sit down with a notebook and writing everything you truly want in each area of your life:
- What would you create?
- Where would you grow?
- What would you experience?
- Who would you become?
This list isn’t meant to be logical. It’s meant to be honest.
Because in Wholistic Productivity, we build everything on this foundation:
Dream Big. Plan Smart. Live Fully.
You can’t plan smart until you know what you actually want. And you can’t live fully if you never allow yourself to dream beyond what feels safe.
Why Dreaming Big Is Essential for a Fulfilled Life
Some people worry that dreaming big is indulgent or impractical. But every meaningful achievement starts with a vision that felt “too big” at first. When you write your Adult Christmas List, you’re not making promises—you’re simply acknowledging possibility.
Kids write their lists with hope and excitement. Adults should write theirs with intention and alignment.
Your big dreams won’t magically appear under the tree (if only!), but naming them is the first step in building a plan you can actually follow. That’s where the adult version of your list becomes powerful—because now we can bring strategy to meet imagination.
Let the child in you dream.
Let the adult in you build the path.
How to Create Your Adult Christmas List for 2026
You can do this in 20 minutes:
- Set a timer and write down everything you want in 2026—across all three Pillars.
- Do not filter. If it excites you, it goes on the list.
- Circle the ones that spark the most energy.
- Pick one to pursue first. Not the easiest—the one that matters most.
- Turn it into a Goal Road Map with milestones, resources, deadlines, and your “why.”
- Use Sunday Strategy to connect it to your weekly actions.
One small, courageous decision can change the trajectory of your year.
Your Invitation to Dream Big Again
As you head toward 2026, give yourself the gift of dreaming the way you once did—as if anything were possible. Because more is possible than you think.
Write your Adult Christmas List this week. Let it stretch you. Let it surprise you. Let it open the door to a life that feels bigger and more meaningful.
And if you want help turning that list into a focused, achievable plan, I’d love to talk with you. You can schedule a 20-minute strategy call with me.
In this free session, we’ll help you clarify one major dream for 2026 and talk about the steps necessary to give you a sense of direction and momentum.
This year, dare to dream big again. Then build the plan to make it real.