This episode tackles a crucial mindset shift: moving away from the pressure of one-year goal obsession toward a decade-long vision. Amber reflects on how the "2026 vs 2016" social media trend made her realize how much growth happens when we give ourselves time and grace. She challenges listeners to stop putting band-aids on their lives just to hit arbitrary yearly targets and instead think about who they want to become over the next ten years.

The heart of the message is simple but powerful: focus on progress, not just accomplishment.

• Think in decades, not just years - Approach 2026 as "year one" of the next decade rather than an isolated year where everything must happen
• Create progress goals - Alongside big goals, establish what progress looks like so you can celebrate movement forward even if the ultimate goal isn't reached yet
• Focus on progress over accomplishment - Your life is complete when you feel fulfilled and purposeful, not when you check off every goal
• Plant seeds with different timelines - It's okay if something you start in 2026 doesn't bloom until five years from now
• Combat comparison and "feeling behind" - Everyone feels behind in some way; focusing on others' timelines keeps you in scarcity
• Add moments of joy - Not all goals need to be financial or career-related; include simple joys like watching sunsets or painting
• Conduct monthly check-ins - Review not just goal progress but your emotions and energy levels to adjust and maintain momentum
• Celebrate what goes right - Don't let accomplishments get overshadowed by what you haven't achieved yet
• Protect your energy - Taking breaks as a content creator (or in any field) helps you reconnect with authentic desires versus external noise
• Design your life intentionally - Ask yourself who you want to be, how you want to show up, and who you want around you in the next decade