Move Gently Into The New Year

be gentle with the way you’re
learning to hold your own heart

– butterflies rising

So many of us have the best intentions for a New Year. It is a cultural norm for a large number of people to create a resolution of sorts. Sadly, many of our intentions or resolutions are never actualized. 

I love the idea of a fresh start. A new beginning. The passing of one year into the next seems like the perfect time to embrace this. However, what I have come to experience is that this ‘time’ of year is not innately supportive of change and newness.

It is the middle of winter for many people. This is the time when our bodies and souls need to rest, restore and turn inward. It is the season when the animal and plant worlds hibernate and sleep. Nature knows it must do this in order to bloom again.

Yet somehow our silly human culture wants to do the opposite of this and we actually fight nature. I believe this is the reason that most ‘resolutions’ fall flat.

We see the need for a change, we want the change, we may even voice the change, and then we keep doing the same old things. We ignore our environment that is asking us to slow down, accept, turn inward.  The intention or resolution is supposed to be helpful and inspiring. Instead, it becomes a way to feel bad about yourself because you have ‘failed’. Not a good cycle to be part of; yet we all fall into this trap.

So, how can we honor a New Year’s Intention when we are inspired to create one?

How can it be something that empowers and supports us? 

First, go gently.
Gentle, gentle, gentle, sweet friend.

#1 Be sure that the intention is true.
An intention that is heart-centered, and not from the ego, has a better chance of taking flight with action.  Think of it as a seed.  It will take time to grow and will need to be nurtured. Meet yourself where you are – with so much love and compassion.

When you understand why you are creating that intention and what has blocked you from actualizing it up to this point, then you are starting from a place that has possibility. Awareness is the key. Just breathe and be aware.

#2 Create one SUPER SIMPLE and doable action. This should be something that you can do every day. It will help you remember your intention and honor it. It is about being practical and consistent. Choose a feasible time of day to do the action and set an alarm to go off at that time.  For instance, if your intention is to be more mindful, set an alarm to get up 10 minutes earlier; go sit, relax and breathe with awareness. 

You are welcome to do more than one action a day, but they will simply be a bonus.  If you forget one day, just begin again. 

This is about you creating self-love, not self-shame. 

Each time you do the action, imagine the seed growing.   

#3 Lastly, find a way to be accountable. You can have a friend that you text after you’ve done the action, post about it, or join a group (online or in person) doing a similar thing to generate community support. 

Connecting with people doing what you wish to be doing fuels your inspiration. Find those living in the way you aspire to and let them help you turn your inspiration into loving action.

And ultimately, if the timing doesn’t feel aligned right now, revisit your intention in March. See if the season changing allows more support.

If you would like help releasing last year and creating more awareness and purpose for 2026, here is a loving ritual you can use.