Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP094: Do You Have What It Takes For An Amazing 2026?

This started with the three planners I have this year plus the two print outs as well as a wheel of life

This is what I'm striving for as well and today, a better year in 2026.

I will be covering three main points that you will need as we approach the new year in less than 30 days: Traits, strengths and habits.

Here is a short list, much more covered in this episode-

Traits

Traits are enduring qualities that shape an individual's patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. They are relatively stable over time and across different situations, though they can evolve through experience. Traits are a combination of inherited predispositions and socialization.

• Examples: Open-mindedness, introversion, creativity, honesty, anxiety, or agreeableness.

• Openness shapes how you imagine possibilities, innovate, and think beyond the obvious.

• Conscientiousness determines how you plan, stay disciplined, and follow through.

For dreamers, understanding your traits isn't an academic exercise — it's a mirror. The better you understand how you're wired, the better you can navigate your dreams. A dream isn't just achieved through action — it's achieved through self-awareness. Traits tell you what comes naturally, where you might struggle, and where you'll need strategies, support, or structure to keep moving forward.

Strengths

Character strengths are positive traits, rooted in morals and ethics, that empower individuals to overcome challenges, build relationships, and find fulfillment. Unlike skills (which are learned abilities), strengths are inherent qualities that reflect who a person is at their core.

• Examples: Bravery, integrity, kindness, perseverance, social intelligence, and gratitude.

• Significance: Utilizing personal strengths is associated with greater happiness, resilience, and overall well-being.

• Balance: Strengths used without balance can become weaknesses (e.g., too much honesty can become bluntness; too much courage can become recklessness).

But strengths also require balance. Too much of a good thing can turn into a challenge. Honesty becomes bluntness when it lacks empathy. Courage becomes recklessness when it lacks wisdom. Kindness becomes people-pleasing when it lacks boundaries. Perseverance becomes burnout when it lacks rest. Strengths need direction — they need to be used at the right time, in the right amount, and for the right purpose.

For dreamers, strengths are the compass. When you know what your inner gifts are, you stop trying to become someone else and start building a life that aligns with who you truly are.

Habits

Habits are routine behaviors that are performed regularly and often unconsciously. They are the consistent and daily expressions of a person's character and values in action. Habits are learned and can be changed, providing a direct way to influence and develop character traits and strengths.

• Examples: Waking up early, exercising daily, active listening, biting nails, or expressing gratitude.

• Significance: Habits are a major factor in personal development; changing a habit can gradually reshape one's character and lifestyle over time.

They are the visible proof of the traits you want to develop. If openness is a trait, curiosity practices become the habit. If courage is a strength, speaking up becomes the habit. If discipline is a trait, consistency becomes the habit. Habits are how you take the invisible work of becoming and make it visible, measurable, and real.

For dreamers, habits are the quiet teammates helping you build momentum — even on the days when you don't feel like showing up. They're the small decisions that collectively build a life aligned with your deepest dreams.

You will need all three for your best year yet coming up and I provide this for you in this episode!

My Book Closing The 18-Inch Gap

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