Hello and happy new year! I hope you all enjoyed a quiet holiday season with lots of warmth and joy. As we shift into the new year and begin to think about what lies ahead, it feels natural to create a new beginning; to start fresh. The new year can feel like a clean slate and bring with it renewed motivation. Contrary to this tendency, nature would tell us that winter is actually the time to hibernate, to go within and reemerge in the beauty of spring. So, what if we reinvented the idea of the new year? What if we used this time to truly reflect, let go, surrender and then set intentions for the future ahead – without all the pressure? To let go of what was and open to what could be.
Pressure to Improve
You might be wondering, where is all this coming from? Did I drink too much eggnog this season? No, honestly, this originates from years of putting needless pressure on myself to “improve”, to “change” or to find some other flaw that I felt needed fixing or upgrading. Granted, there is a lot to be said about evolution; however, evolution is not forced, it is gentle and patient. Personal growth benefits greatly from acceptance and compassion. The new year is an ideal time for reflection and surrender; to let go of what no longer feels aligned with our values and make room to receive what will serve our highest evolution. This sounds lofty but it can be simple.
Begin at the Beginning
This time of year, naturally prompts us to reflect on the past. Sometimes the best vantage point is hindsight; reflection helps us to grow. Reflection with compassion is the key. I recall one year that was particularly challenging on a personal level. When the new year rolled around, it was difficult for me to reflect on the year passed without beating myself up and harboring regret for decisions that I made. It was not until several years later that I realized how many of the “bad” choices I made helped me to evolve in many (unexpected) ways. I invite you to take a moment of reflection. This can be done by writing on a sheet of paper all the events that you feel could have gone better and how those events inspired growth. May I also suggest, at the risk of seeming cliché, to simultaneously acknowledge all the things (big and small) that inspired gratitude and love. Spending time in reflection prepares us to let go; to release what may no longer be serving us.
A Simple Practice of Letting Go:
Letting go of thoughts, ideas or the past can be challenging but the idea is to create space for the new. Releasing physical items from our space that no longer feel aligned is a great place to start (and it can provide immediate, tangible results)! Even if this is the simple act of cleaning out a drawer or a small closet. Letting go of anything that seems to just be taking up space can help open us open energetically as well. Start small and see how it feels. When John and I moved into our new home, we had boxes and boxes of stuff that we had not unpacked in three years! When we finally unboxed everything and realized how much we did not need or that was no longer aligned with our current state, we thoughtfully donated the items to a charity that resonated with us. These items included many “sentimental” items passed down through our family. I cried when driving away from the donation center but felt lighter – free from an invisible pressure that I did not even know I was holding. Purging material possessions is something I practice regularly since it tends to have a rather immediate energetic impact.
Acceptance and Surrender
I recognize that acceptance and surrender can sometimes feel elusive. I still find myself struggling against what IS and longing for things to be different than they actually are. Therefore, surrender is a practice of patience and, again, self-compassion. For example, when I notice myself grasping for clarity or certainty and longing to figure it all out, I do my best to pause. Instead of forcing a solution, I have been practicing meeting the moment as it is. Sometimes that looks like relaxing my expectations, loosening my grip on self-imposed timelines, or simply acknowledging the whisper of grief that arises when life doesn’t unfold the way I imagined. In those moments, surrender is not giving up; rather, it is choosing to be present with what is here for me, without judgment. Essentially, I allow myself to be human. From that place of acceptance, something gentler often emerges: a deeper trust, and the reminder that I am not behind I am right where I am meant to be. That acceptance provides the fertile soil needed to plant the seeds of intention.
Intending for the Future
Many years ago, I stopped setting a new year’s resolution, and instead, I chose a word for each year. More of a theme to live by. However, I still felt this underlying pressure to be better. It has taken me a few years since to realize that, until I accepted where I am (now, in the present), my intentions, regardless of whether it is one word or a lofty goal, would not truly have meaning. I have since adopted the idea of setting intentions for the year ahead using three words. This year, I have chosen “alignment, service and gratitude” to be my words. They are more of a compass guiding my actions rather than a goal to strive for. With the use of words as intentions, it allows for an openness to the unknown while simultaneously accepting the present as it is. Therefore, INTENDING for the future and ACCEPTING the present. Opening to the field of pure potentiality where all things are possible. What this looks like in practice for me is setting intentions daily that align with my words and doing so with grace and compassion for what may (or may not) unfold.
In closing
The new year tends to bring about pressure to perform or improve; however, I gently invite an alternative. To examine the past without dwelling on perceived mistakes, then letting go of what no longer serves our highest good while surrendering to what COULD BE by setting intentions for the year ahead that allow flexibility and ultimately growth! If you choose to do any of the exercises above, I would love to hear from you! Let me know how it goes and if you chose words, what words did you choose and why?
As always, I sincerely appreciate that you are reading this! I write from my heart and hopefully touch yours in some way!
Until next time, Happy New Year!
With gratitude and love,
Adriana