The start of a new year can feel like a fresh chapter—like we’re handed a blank page, ready to write the next part of our story. But let’s be honest, it’s not always that simple. We carry our old habits, doubts, and fears with us, even if we want to leave them behind. And for me, January has always been a time of both excitement and hesitation. It’s a mix of hope and the challenge of shedding the things that no longer serve me.
Over the years, I’ve learned that embracing new beginnings doesn’t mean starting completely over or pretending like the past didn’t happen. It’s more about learning how to carry those past experiences with me—lessons learned, mistakes made, and all—and using them to fuel the person I’m becoming. But it’s not easy. I still catch myself thinking about the times I’ve failed, the things I didn’t get done, or the moments I felt less than capable. But here's the thing—those experiences don’t define me. And they don’t define you either.
Letting Go of What Doesn’t Serve You
It wasn’t until I really sat with myself one year, around the end of December, that I realized how much emotional baggage I had been carrying. It was like I had these invisible weights—guilt over missed opportunities, shame over past mistakes, doubts about my potential—and I was dragging them into every new year. I’d sit there making resolutions, saying things like, “This is the year I’m going to change everything,” but then, nothing really changed. The weights didn’t magically disappear.
So, I had to make a decision. I had to choose to release some of that baggage. Not all of it at once, because that would’ve been too much. But piece by piece, I started letting go of the shame, the unrealistic expectations I had for myself, and the fear of failure. I started asking myself, “What’s really holding me back?” And then, I began to untangle those knots, one by one.
The truth is, it’s hard to move forward if you’re still clinging to everything behind you. It doesn’t mean you forget where you’ve been. But you don’t have to let it control where you’re going. This year, I’ve made it a point to choose growth over guilt, progress over perfection.
Setting Intentions, Not Resolutions
For me, resolutions never really worked. They felt too rigid. Too much pressure. I always found myself falling short. But over time, I’ve started focusing on intentions instead. Intentions are more flexible. They’re about the kind of person I want to be, not just the things I want to do. Instead of saying, “I’m going to lose 20 pounds this year,” I started asking myself, “What can I do to feel healthier, both mentally and physically?”
Intentions give you room to breathe. They allow you to adjust along the way, without feeling like you’ve failed if things don’t go exactly as planned. It’s more about growth, and growth doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.
Celebrating Small Wins
One thing I’ve learned over the years is how important it is to celebrate the small wins. It’s easy to look at the big picture and feel overwhelmed. But the truth is, it’s those small steps forward that really make a difference. Whether it’s waking up five minutes earlier, making a phone call you’ve been putting off, or taking a deep breath when you’re feeling stressed—those little moments of progress are what add up to lasting change.
This year, I’m focusing on those moments. The small victories. The quiet progress. Because when I take the time to celebrate those, I start to see how far I’ve really come.
Embracing the Journey, Not the Destination
The journey is everything. I know, that sounds cliché, but it’s true. I’ve spent too many years obsessing over the end goal, thinking that once I hit a certain milestone, I’d finally feel “good enough.” But that’s just not how it works. The journey, with all its ups and downs, is where the growth happens.
This year, I’m embracing the process. I’m accepting that there will be setbacks, mistakes, and days when I feel like I’m not making progress. But those moments don’t mean I’ve failed. They mean I’m human. And that’s part of the journey too.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that progress is messy. It’s imperfect. But it’s still progress.
Journal Prompts for Reflection:
- Releasing the Past: Take a moment to reflect on something from your past that you feel is holding you back. It could be a regret, a mistake, or something you’re ashamed of. Write about it, then ask yourself what it would look like to let it go. What would be different for you if you didn’t carry that weight with you into the new year?
- Setting Intentions: What is one intention you’d like to set for this year? Focus on something that aligns with who you want to become, not just what you want to do. Write about why this intention is meaningful to you and how you can bring it into your daily life.
- Celebrating Small Wins: Think back over the last few weeks. What’s one small victory that you didn’t give yourself credit for? Write about it and reflect on how it contributes to your bigger picture.
- Embracing the Journey: What does the journey look like for you this year? What are you excited about, and what challenges do you anticipate? Write about how you can embrace the ups and downs, knowing they’re all part of the process.
