A Simple Framework for Planning Your Next Chapter

Do any of these scenarios sound like you? 

You don’t know exactly what’s happening, but something is OFF…things just aren’t working anymore. Not doing anything feels worse than facing the unknown, and deep down, you know it’s time for a shift.

Maybe you know what needs to change — a job, a relationship, a role, or a routine that no longer fits.

Or maybe you don’t. Maybe all you know is that you aren’t where you want to be, and you’re not sure where to start or how to move forward. Either way, this space — the in-between — is where it all begins.

Here’s a simple framework to help you begin mapping your next chapter, one grounded and empowering step at a time.

1. Accept & Begin Where You Are

Before you make any big decisions or set any goals, start with full acceptance of where you are right now without judgment or shame.  It may not be where you thought you’d be or where you want to be, but its where you are.  Learning to fully surrender to your current situation is a critical first step.

You also don’t need a perfect plan to move forward. You don’t have to feel ready, confident, or completely clear before you begin. The pressure to figure it all out or “get it right” can keep you stuck — but the truth is, clarity comes from movement, not from overthinking.

This is your permission to begin without perfection. To let it be messy. To start small. And most importantly, to trust that where you are right now is where you are supposed to be and learn to embrace it as your starting point. 

2. Start by Listening to Your Inner Voice

Before we plan, we pause. Life transitions often begin with a passing thought or soul knowing… that whisper of your inner voice telling us that something no longer fits. It might sound like:

• “I don’t want this anymore, even though I worked hard to get here.”
• “I feel restless, like I’m supposed to be doing something else.”
• “I know I’ve outgrown this, but I’m afraid to make a change.”

These are invitations to explore, not problems to fix.  Rather than pushing them away out of fear or rushing to figure them out, ask yourself:

• Is this something I need to pay attention to right now?
• What’s shifting in me right now?
• What is my inner voice telling me?

Listening to your inner voice is always the first step toward honoring your souls desires.   

3. Define Your Core Anchors to Ground You

You don’t need a detailed five-year plan — just a few foundational anchors to help guide you.  Your anchors are the values, desires, and non-negotiables that help you stay grounded when everything feels uncertain. Think of them as your internal compass or north star.

Try this:

• Write down 3 values that feel essential to your next chapter (e.g. freedom, creativity, ease, stability)
• Now, describe how you want your future YOU to feel — not just what you want to achieve

You’re not building a blueprint. You’re building a foundation. From there, you can shape a life that actually fits you.

4. Honor the Unknown

Create space for uncertainty — it’s part of the process. Planning your next chapter without room for the unknown is just control in disguise. Having a high level vision or even goals for the future is good, but let the Universe sort out the details as you move forward.  Not everything needs to be or should be mapped out. The truth is, forcing clarity too soon can keep you stuck.

Let go of the pressure to be perfect. You don’t need every answer before you begin.

Ask yourself:

• What can I be curious about right now?
• How can I move forward without knowing where I am  going?
• What am I afraid might happen if I don’t have a clear plan?

Remember: clarity often comes after the first step — not before. Let your path reveal itself as you walk it.

5. Take Aligned, Imperfect Action

You don’t need to blow up your life (although I’ve done it before and it was liberating!) or have a grand reinvention. Small, consistent steps add up to big changes and are often the most powerful ones we take.

Think of this part of your life as an experiment. Try something. Adjust. Try again.

A few aligned actions that don’t require a life overhaul:

• Start journaling
• Set a new boundary
• Take a class that sparks your interest
• Connect with people who inspire you
• Change your hair or wardrobe
• Paint/redecorate a room in your house
• Take one walk, one pause, one breath

There is no “right” move — just the one that feels slightly brave and completely doable right now.

6. Build Support Into Your Map

Big transitions ask a lot of us — emotionally, mentally, and energetically. Building a support system isn’t a luxury; it’s part of the process.

That could look like:

• Working with a coach or therapist
• Confiding in a trusted friend
• Finding community with others navigating similar changes
• Making quiet space for your own voice to come through

Support doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human — and you deserve to feel supported while you grow.

Trust the Becoming

There’s no perfect plan for becoming who you’re meant to be. Planning your next chapter isn’t about doing more, faster, or better. It’s about aligning with what matters most, honoring the season you’re in, and trusting that small steps are enough.

And if you’re feeling like you’re needing or wanting support in mapping your next steps, I’d love to connect.

Click here to book your free Breakthrough to Clarity session — let’s explore what’s shifting for you and how coaching might support your next chapter. 

In the meantime, remember…

• Let go of the expectation that you have to have it all figured out before you start – YOU DON’T
• Let go of the idea that you have to overhaul your entire life – YOU DON’T
• Let go of waiting for “the perfect plan” to emerge – IT WON’T
• Small, consistent steps every day…YOU GOT THIS!