A Different Kind of New Year Resolution

By mid-January, the energy around New Year’s resolutions often shifts. The initial momentum fades, and what remains can feel heavy - another list of things to improve, fix, or finally get right.

When that momentum drops, we often blame ourselves.
We live in a culture that frames change as something driven by discipline and willpower. When effort becomes harder to access, the story quickly turns inward: I’m not committed enough. I didn’t try hard enough. I’ve already fallen behind.

But change doesn’t stall because we lack motivation.

Very often, it stalls because the system we live in - and the nervous system we inhabit - is tired.

After weeks of final deadlines, social demands, emotional intensity, and unspoken expectations, the body naturally shifts toward conservation. Energy drops. Sensitivity increases. The inner pace slows, even if the mind is still pushing forward.

This is not resistance.
It is information.
And it is very much aligned with the nature that surrounds us: winter in the northern hemisphere is the time of quiet recess.

Why change doesn’t begin with adding more

Many resolutions are built on the idea of accumulation: more structure, more discipline, more effort. And they land on a body that may already be carrying too much.

What if this year didn’t begin with another push forward?

What if it began by noticing what you’re still holding: habits, roles, or inner pressures that once served a purpose, but now quietly drain energy?

Letting go is not about giving up. It’s about choosing not to carry what no longer supports your wellbeing.

The body often knows before the mind does

The body registers change long before the mind can name it:

A shallow breath.
A tight jaw or neck.
A sense of heaviness or restlessness.

These are not obstacles to growth. Your body is giving you the signals to pause and observe.

This is where meaningful shifts begin: not in peak moments, but in quiet, steady presence.

The middle is not empty - it’s fertile

The space between intention and action can feel uncomfortable. Undefined. Slow.
But this middle space is not a void - it’s where you can plant the seeds for true change to happen.

Instead of asking What should I do differently this year?
You might ask: What am I ready to release?

This could be the pressure to have everything figured out.
The habit of pushing through fatigue.
The belief that rest must be earned.
Take a moment to pause and listen, and you will find your answer.

Releasing doesn’t require dramatic decisions. Often it happens in small, conscious moments  - pausing before committing, allowing something to remain unfinished, choosing softness over strain.

When something is intentionally let go of, space opens. And from that space, energy and direction can return naturally.

A gentle New Year reflection

This is an invitation for you to take a few quiet minutes with these questions:

What is one expectation, habit, or inner pressure I’m ready to let go of this year because it no longer supports my wellbeing?

What gives me energy, steadiness, or a sense of being more myself that I’d like to invite more of into my life this year?

If this January feels slower or more inward than expected, it may be an invitation to begin the year not by striving for more, but by making room.