The Whimsical Self-Help Guide to Knowing What You Actually Want

(Featuring Halle Berry, Gentle Clarity, and Zero Guessing)

Inspired by the quote: “The first step is clearly defining what it is you’re after, because without knowing that, you’ll never get it.” — Halle Berry

January has a habit of arriving with a megaphone.

New Year's Resolutions

Goals! Plans! Resolutions shouted from every corner!

And yet, for sensitive, thoughtful humans, the real issue is rarely motivation. It’s clarity.

Halle Berry’s wisdom is refreshingly simple: You don’t need more effort. You need to know what you’re actually aiming for.

So let’s approach this the gentle, whimsical way — no pressure, no overhauls, just clarity with kindness.

Step 1: Retire the “I Just Want It to Be Better” Goal

“I want things to improve” is not a destination. It’s a foggy parking lot.

Clarity begins when vague wishes are politely dismissed.

Swap:

• “I want more clients”

• “I want balance”

• “I want success”

For something specific enough to recognize when it arrives.

January clarity question: “What would ‘better’ actually look like on a regular Tuesday?”

If you can’t spot it in real life, it’s not clearly defined yet.

Step 2: Choose One Clear Thing (Not Everything)

This is where sensitive overachievers get tripped up.

You do not need:

• a five-year plan

• a detailed vision board

• seventeen intentions

You need one clear thing you’re after right now.

Examples:

• “I want consistent income without daily visibility.”

• “I want my business to stop draining me.”

• “I want one offer that feels calm and sustainable.”

Clarity loves simplicity. Your nervous system does too.

Pick one. Let the others wait patiently in line.

Step 3: Name It So Your Brain Can Help You

Once something is clearly defined, your brain becomes extremely cooperative.

It starts noticing:

• opportunities

• patterns

• ideas

• shortcuts

• helpful nudges

But only after you tell it what to look for.

Finish this sentence: “What I’m after right now is…”

Write it down. Say it out loud. Keep it visible.

This is not manifesting. It’s direction.

And direction is quietly powerful.

And There You Have It

A Halle Berry–approved reminder that the first step isn’t hustle, bravery, or discipline.

It’s clarity.

When you know what you’re after, you stop chasing everything else. You conserve energy. You move with intention. And progress starts to feel… possible.

One clear step is more than enough to begin.