We're halfway through the year, and now it's time for a Mid-Year Refresh—a chance to pause, refresh, celebrate, and move forward with clarity on your goals and what matters most!
No matter how this year has gone—what you have or have not accomplished—your progress, your intention, your effort, your joy is worth celebrating! And so this week, whether you're a PowerSheets® user or not, join us in beating the heat and diving into a simple 2025 refresh. You'll be so glad you did!
But first, let's take a moment to notice where we are. It's easy—and often tempting—to keep racing along, head down, teeth gritted, just hoping that the plans we've put in place will hold. We don't want to pause to look around, because—if we're honest—we don't think we'll like what we see. We don't think we'll like how we're spending our time, or what we're prioritizing, or how we're treating the people we love.
Friend, that's understandable. But it doesn't have to be that way! If you don't like the direction you're headed, you can change—this week, this moment. Change is possible, and any day can be a fresh start. Stepping out bravely and trying a new tool might be a good second one.
No matter what regrets you have, though, this is also a time to celebrate! We're about to notch six months of the wildly precious year of 2025, and I guarantee you have glimmers to celebrate: decisions you're proud of, habits established, habits broken, new or renewed relationships, happy memories, kind words, ways you've shown up for others, goals achieved.
We're going to linger on these wins, too, because they remind us how small steps forward, taken over time, really do add up. They change our days, and they change the days of the people around us! The ripple effect of living on purpose, no matter how imperfectly, is always worth celebrating.
Here are three easy ways to complete the Mid-Year Refresh:
Refresh your goals.
Pull out your PowerSheets, your Fresh Start, your Season by Season, or the creased sheet of notebook paper where you scratched out a few goal ideas on January 1. What did you write down? What progress have you made?
For each goal, jot down a short progress report: what action steps you've taken, what big or small wins you can celebrate. And then consider: does this goal still matter? Do I want to carry it into the second half of the year?
As I look over my own list, I see a mix of setbacks and wins:
- I just returned home from an incredible 20th reunion weekend with my high school friends, a truly incandescent experience which made all the time spent planning more than worth it.
- We researched, interviewed, and finally selected a contractor for our bathroom refresh, but we're waiting to start the project until he hires a new trim carpenter.
- Annie is now sleeping in a big-girl bed and her crib has been disassembled.
- My V02 max goal feels like it's stalled, but I know I'm doing the prep work for running by strengthening the muscles around my knees.
- I visited a PCP for a routine physical and bloodwork last week! This is a goal years in the making!
- I'm keeping up with my habits of practicing the piano and cleaning out my screenshots, but the Bible reading plan we initially selected for this year didn't pan out. I plan to choose a new one for the second half of the year!
Refresh your big picture.
You’ve gained new perspective this year about what matters and what doesn’t in the big picture. Now, imagine yourself years from now. Looking back on the whole of your life, where will you be grateful you spent your time and attention? Jot down a few sentences or phrases to get clear on your why.
Refresh your focus.
Knowing what matters to you in the big picture helps you to know where to use your time—it helps you to focus instead of trying to do it all. What is the ONE THING you most want to cultivate in the second half of this year?
Looking for a tool to help you cultivate what matters in the second half of the year?
We think you might love the PowerSheets® goal planner! While the 2026 One-Year version will launch in September, you have two intentional tools that will help you get started right now: the Fresh Start Goal Planner and the 90-Day PowerSheets®. They both combine guided goal coaching with daily or weekly planning pages. And they're undated, so you can start anytime!
A year from now—six months from now!—you'll be glad you started today.
And now for the celebration! We'd love to hear: what's one goal win you're celebrating from the first half of 2025? Don't be shy—we'd love to cheer you on in the comments!
Emily Thomas
For a decade, these Write the Word Journals have helped women cultivate faith focused habits and spiritual growth goals. Their simple format (and beautiful design) makes it easy to get right into the Word.
Save the date for the 2026 PowerSheets® Collection launch! Yes, friends, it's almost here! The 2026 PowerSheets, Season by Season® planner, and new accessories will launch on Tuesday, September 16 at 10 am ET. Stay tuned, because we have SO much fun in store between now and then!
5 comments
I’m excited to refresh my goals for the rest of 2025. My word of the year is Home. I want to be at Home with my body, mind and soul. The first half of the year, I opened myself up to God in a new way and recognized that I could have fun with God. Who knew? I let go of more, laughed a lot, and paused to soak in the joy and beauty of this world. II connected on deeper levels with my family, friends and community. I explored new and old hobbies. I read more books to learn new things and just for fun. Through all of those activities, I began to believe that I must follow my purpose that God set out before me in the upcoming 2026. For the rest of this year, I will be committing to my new health routines and starting a Wellness Coaching business in Jan. 2026. Even as I write this, I get nervous and uncomfortable. I wonder if I can really make it happen? Yet, I trust the Lord to give me the wisdom and strength to take the necessary steps each day to live by example to help others live their best life, too. Secondly, I plan on taking a break in October to go to the beach with my hubby when it’s quiet and enjoy the last bits of summertime warm weather. For my third goal, I will plan to keep my holidays simple and continue to focus on the reason for the season and time spent with family and friends. I am hopeful and excited about this new season of life opening before me and for all of us. Together, we can do it!
Thank you I need this as well!
I didn’t hit any big milestones yet, but honestly, just setting goals at all this year is huge for me. I’ve never even thought about having a word of the year before—or making real goals as an adult. But joining the Cultivate What Matters community has helped me grow so much.
My word this year is Advocate, and it’s been showing up in big ways. I’ve been fighting hard to get the support my kids need, even when resources are limited in our area. It’s been a lot of pushing and persistence, but I’m finally seeing progress.
I also started working with a life coach and found that journaling is my true self-care—it’s helped me stay grounded through all the ups and downs. This year may not look “perfect” on paper, but I’ve come so far already. I’m proud of that. 🖤
Have gotten my house rearranged so if my husband comes home from back surgery and rehab in a wheelchair, he can get through the house with no blocks
Needed this! Thank you!
Loved this so much!! Thank you!!