What is a goal constellation?

A map of one goal. The goal sits in the middle as the brightest star, and the stars around it are what shapes it: books or ideas you are drawing on, next steps, blockers, supports, and the proof you would see if it were working. Lines show which of them belong together.

Why link a blocker to a next step or a support?

A blocker joined to a step or support becomes an if-then plan: if this gets in the way, then I do that. The map lists each of those plans beside the sky, and names any blocker that has none yet. Planning that way follows research on implementation intentions; Gollwitzer and Sheeran's 2006 meta-analysis of 94 studies found if-then plans helped people reach their goals.

How is it different from a mind map?

A mind map branches out from a topic, and every branch looks the same. Here each star has a kind, so the map can read itself back to you: it notices when there is no next step, no proof, a blocker with no plan, or a book that never turns into an action.

Is my map saved, and does it go anywhere?

It is saved in this browser's local storage as you work, so a reload keeps it. If you are signed in, it is also saved to your HourLife account, so it opens on your other devices, and you can delete it there in Settings. Signed out, nothing is sent to HourLife or anyone else, so another browser or device will not have it. Clearing site data removes the browser's copy, so export anything you want to keep.

An SVG of the whole map on its night sky, a PNG at twice screen resolution, or a plain-text outline that lists the goal, every star by kind, and your if-then plans, ready to paste into notes.

Can I use it on a phone or with a keyboard?

Yes. On a phone, drag stars with a finger and pinch to zoom; the star editor sits under the map. With a keyboard, Tab moves between stars, the arrow keys nudge the one in focus, L starts a link, Delete removes a star, and Ctrl or Cmd+Z undoes.

Can I map more than one goal?

One map lives in this browser at a time. To start another, export the current one, then choose Start over and pick a blank sky or one of the starting skies.

Keep this tool for later

Tools
Goal Constellation

Map one goal as a sky of stars

Put the goal in the middle, then add what shapes it: books, next steps, blockers, supports and proof. Link a blocker to a step and it becomes an if-then plan.

Open the star map See the starting skies

6 kinds of star
SVG, PNG or text export
Free, no account

Six kinds of star

Every star has a kind, drawn in its own shape and colour, so you can see at a glance what the goal has around it and what it lacks.

Goal The one outcome you are mapping. It stays in the middle and is the brightest star. For example: Build a consistent strength routine
Book or idea A book, framework or idea you are drawing on. For example: Atomic Habits: make the cue obvious
Next step Something small and concrete you can do next. For example: Lift at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and Friday
Blocker What tends to get in the way. For example: Evenings get crowded
Support A person, place or resource that makes it easier. For example: A gym on the way to work
Proof What you would see if it were working. For example: Eight workouts in four weeks

A map in three passes

Name the goal

Start from a blank sky or one of the examples below, and write the goal in the bright star at the centre.
Fill the sky

Add stars from the bar under the map. Each new one links to the star you have selected, so the map grows outward as you think.
Plan for the blockers

Link each blocker to the step or support that answers it, read what the panel says is missing, then export the map.

The map reads itself back

Beside the sky, a short reading checks four things, and names any blocker still without a plan:

There is at least one next step.
Every blocker is linked to a step or a support.
There is a proof: something you would see if it worked.
At least one book or idea is linked to a next step, so reading turns into doing.

Your if-then plans

If evenings get crowded, then lift at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and Friday.

If I am not sure what to lift, then … no plan yet

Plans written this way, “if this happens, then I do that”, are called implementation intentions. A 2006 meta-analysis by Gollwitzer and Sheeran across 94 studies found they helped people follow through on their goals.

Starting skies

Each opens the map with a goal already charted, to rename and rearrange. Or start with just the goal.

Questions

What is a goal constellation?

A map of one goal. The goal sits in the middle as the brightest star, and the stars around it are what shapes it: books or ideas you are drawing on, next steps, blockers, supports, and the proof you would see if it were working. Lines show which of them belong together.
Why link a blocker to a next step or a support?

A blocker joined to a step or support becomes an if-then plan: if this gets in the way, then I do that. The map lists each of those plans beside the sky, and names any blocker that has none yet. Planning that way follows research on implementation intentions; Gollwitzer and Sheeran's 2006 meta-analysis of 94 studies found if-then plans helped people reach their goals.
How is it different from a mind map?

A mind map branches out from a topic, and every branch looks the same. Here each star has a kind, so the map can read itself back to you: it notices when there is no next step, no proof, a blocker with no plan, or a book that never turns into an action.
Is my map saved, and does it go anywhere?

It is saved in this browser's local storage as you work, so a reload keeps it. If you are signed in, it is also saved to your HourLife account, so it opens on your other devices, and you can delete it there in Settings. Signed out, nothing is sent to HourLife or anyone else, so another browser or device will not have it. Clearing site data removes the browser's copy, so export anything you want to keep.
What can I export?

An SVG of the whole map on its night sky, a PNG at twice screen resolution, or a plain-text outline that lists the goal, every star by kind, and your if-then plans, ready to paste into notes.
Can I use it on a phone or with a keyboard?

Yes. On a phone, drag stars with a finger and pinch to zoom; the star editor sits under the map. With a keyboard, Tab moves between stars, the arrow keys nudge the one in focus, L starts a link, Delete removes a star, and Ctrl or Cmd+Z undoes.
Can I map more than one goal?

One map lives in this browser at a time. To start another, export the current one, then choose Start over and pick a blank sky or one of the starting skies.