The Dream Dean

We have now reached the end of 2025, a year that has gone by way too fast!

I am now convinced that time goes by faster as you get older!

It’s time for my December 2025 (and 2025 overall) reflection.

Reflection Questions…

• What has been most consistent for you since the start of 2025? OR What is different about you since the start of 2025?
• What was the biggest change, your greatest achievement, and/or your most profound progress made in December 2025?
• What was a challenge/adversity you had to face, an obstacle you had to overcome, or problem/issue you had to deal in December 2025? What did you learn from the experience?
• If you were being bold and focused, what action could you take in January 2026 that could profoundly impact your life (in a positive way)?

Answers…

• What has been most consistent for you since the start of 2025? OR What is different about you since the start of 2025?
  • I hit my target of  750 miles walking/elliptical, 1,000 miles indoor/outdoor cycling, and 5 million steps for 2025. As I reflect on past years, I’ve noticed that I’ve decreased my yearly workout achievements each year since my INSANE high of 2022. I know it’s a combination of age and health that has lead to this decrease, but I must keep going. I’m setting the same yearly fitness goal for 2026 (750 miles walking/elliptical, 1,000 miles indoor/outdoor cycling, 5.25 million steps).
  • I have now ingrained these two questions at the start and end of each day:
    • Morning: What will I do today to make me better, someone else better, or the world a little better?
    • Before Bed: Did I do something today to make me better, someone else better, or the world a little better?
  • I’ve created/modified more Life Design Catalyst tools than any previous year. When I reflect back on the two Life Design Catalyst Trainings I facilitated in 2025, I bet at least one-half of the May materials and three-quarters of the December materials in the Training Workbooks were brand new and/or newly modified activities. I was definitely in the flow with this work in 2025.
  • It’s hard to imagine that this time last year, Rebecca and I had just finished our vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where I was inspired to write “The Catalyst Way Manifesto,” which actually was the basis for our “The Catalyst Way” book and several workshops/presentations/keynotes.
• What was the biggest change, your greatest achievement, and/or your most profound progress made in December 2025 (and over the course of 2025)?
  • Despite having a fever for the three days, I still managed to facilitate our December Training. We had 16 participants, where they engaged in many of the new Deep Dive activities I created since the May Training. Many shared how much they enjoyed the deeper level of introspection. The Catalyst Way process is coming to fruition…
  • Ivor and I completed our challenge of 25 videos in 2025 for the “The Catalyst Way Podcast.” We started June 5, 2025 and finished December 30, 2025. Let’s see where we’re headed in 2026. Check out our last 4 Episodes here:
    • Episode 25 – The Catalyst Way: 2025 Reflection and 2026 Possibilities – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR0lA6tHUMs
    • Episode 24 – The Catalyst Way Pillar #3 – Find Your Right Pond – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmusUjb8VoI
    • Episode 23 – The Catalyst Way Pillar #2: Serve Profoundly – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoKQr4R2UA8
    • Episode 22 – The Catalyst Way Pillar #1: Know Yourself – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je5hQES34lY
  • One of the biggest accomplishments in 2025 is that Ivor and I wrote a book together – “The Catalyst Way: A Guide for Unlocking Your Divine Potential.” You can find it here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/CATALYST-WAY-Unlocking-Divine-Potential/dp/B0FK3RNCJ8/ref=sr_1_1.
• What was a challenge/adversity you had to face, an obstacle you had to overcome, or problem/issue you had to deal in December 2025 (and over the course of 2025)? What did you learn from the experience?
  • I dropped ONE POUND! Okay, at least I didn’t gain weight right? Didn’t come close to my target of 190 lbs. I guess the desire to change wasn’t strong enough. However, I’ve already modified my diet, decreased my caloric intake, and increase my physical activity over the first five days of 2026 (I started on my 2026 fitness goals on December 27th).
  • In March 2025 (right) and June 2025 (left), I found out that I have partially (10mm tears) torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders. Instead of surgery, I’ve been focused on injury-specific rehab exercises to get them better. Right is better now – I can play pickleball with no pain. Now, it’s time to work on the left shoulder.
• If you were being bold and focused, what action could you take in January 2026 that could profoundly impact your life (in a positive way)?
  • Play more pickleball in 2026. Not to compete in tournaments, just to play and meet more people.
  • Make a conscious effort to send out emails/letter to prospective advisors and coaches in higher education to increase the number of opportunities to deliver The Catalyst Way workshops to educators in higher education.
  • Focus on going to bed at or before 10:30am, so I can get up earlier to get an aerobic workout in before I start my day. And to play pickleball in the mornings between 9am and 11am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at one of the local YWCA.

I’m ready to tackle 2026! Are you?