Happy New Year! I don’t know about you but I LOVE new years. The new energy, clean slate, momentum and possibility. 

The freedom from what’s no longer serving you in your rearview. 

A new commitment towards your most connected and aligned self. A new beginning that’s available to you with choice, clarity and intention. 

Of course there are plenty of unknowns, limiting beliefs and fears to move through, and so much to do, but it all starts with how you show up for yourself. This is the foundation that allows you to have presence, flow, adaptability and gratitude regardless of what comes your way.

Remember finding your flow comes from alignment not force. It comes from choosing presence rather than tension and pressure.

One of the ways to access your alignment is through being intentional. This allows you to choose how you enter a room, what you say yes to in the morning, how you respond in conversations…

Setting intentions is relationship focused rather than goal focused. It’s you being at choice with your relationship to time, your energy, your body, your internal mindset and habits. 

I traded setting hyper-focused and achievement oriented goals for clarity, and an intentional way of being that allowed space for external results, ease and abundance to flow. 

Today I invite you to check in with one of my favorite processes to start the new year. 

1. Honor, Appreciate and Say Goodbye to 2025.

• What’s working in my life? 
• Where am I already in flow/inspired/engaged?
• What’s felt supportive or nourishing this past year that I want to continue or build upon?
• When did I feel most like myself?
• What rhythms, rituals, or boundaries helped me stay connected?

Fill up with gratitude and capture what you did accomplish. How far you came. 

Now, let’s set yourself up for improvement.
Ask yourself:

• Where is there room to grow? 
• What are some lessons I learned this past year? 
• Where did I say yes or over-extend myself? 
• Where did I say no and didn’t choose myself? 
• What was I really afraid of? 
• Where is there space to improve how I showed up for myself and/or others? 
• What was challenging and how did it serve me this past year? 

2. Make New Choices: 

Remember Flow requires spaciousness: physically, mentally, energetically and emotionally. You connected to yourself as spirit is where you’re most yourself. 

What am I ready to release?
Ask yourself: 

• What am I carrying/holding onto/scared to change that no longer belongs in this next chapter?
• What have I been tolerating that’s no longer working for me? 
• What expectations, identities, or timelines feel heavy?
• Where am I holding on out of fear rather than my truth?
• Where am I willing to be uncomfortable?
• What truth have I been avoiding because it might require change?

Am I ready, willing and able to make a shift? 

If not, what needs to happen? Do I need support? Structure? To gather information? To build resources? 

What can I say yes as a next step towards the outcome I want? 

3. Choosing a Word for Your Year: 

“This year, I intend to move through my life with more ________.”

Let that word guide your decisions—not perfectly, but intentionally. 

My word this year is focus. 

4. Let’s Get Real:

What has to happen and who do you have to be to have the life you truly desire?

Who are you willing to be?

Make a list of everything you’re willing to be to move towards the life you’re ready to move into…

I’ll share some of my examples. I wrote about two dozen after a meditation of what would serve me. 

Be willing to be bold 

Be willing to build my patience 

Be willing to build my presence 

Be willing to release physical stuff and old energies

Be willing to expand and outgrow myself 

Be willing to be lonely and filled up in new ways 

Be willing to be protective of my sleep, energy and body 

5. What Do You Want—Gain Clarity. 

• How do I want my days to feel in my body?
• Does anything need to change to accomplish this? 
• What emotional states am I craving more of?
• Where am I over-giving or over-extending?
• What supports my nervous system?
• What boundaries would protect my flow this year?
• Do I treat my body and energy as sacred? 
• Do I protect present time with what’s most important to me? 

Examples: time off your phone with your kids or when working? 

Staying present and grounded when you choose time for yourself versus being at the gym or meditating on auto-pilot.

• What would be sustainable instead of impressive?

• What does self-trust look like in action=

 I prioritize how I feel and how connected and present I am, not just what I achieve.

One of the most helpful commitments I’ve made to myself over the years is saying yes when it’s truly aligned. Making something happen that’s a soul calling. Leaning into discomfort, or not pleasing others to show up for myself. I’ve done this really well with the big stuff, this year for me is about choosing now to do this day-to-day even more.

• Can you commit to hearing those subtle cues guiding you towards your most authentic and empowering life? 
• Can you commit to say yes before you know how? 
• Will you say yes even when it’s super inconvenient and unknown? 

6. Write Yourself a Letter: 
Open this on December 31st, 2026. 

This can include anything you feel inspired to write. Anything you want to share with your future self about who you’ve become. What you’re up to. What’s present in your life. What you love about yourself. Who you love. What you’re most grateful for. Where you’d love to find yourself a year from now…

There’s always space to add-in more of what you want throughout the year and these questions will help you begin to build new momentum for your next chapter or book.

I invite you to take the time to do this exercise. I promise you if you do…you will be unrecognizable in the best of ways moving into 2027.  

My invitation for all of us to lean into even more presence and possibility this year. And to choose to say yes intentionally as it moves you closer to your goals and who want to be. 

With love and gratitude.

Here’s to a fulfilling, inspiring and abundant 2026!

Laurin