Reflecting on Growth: Honoring Your Journey Before the New Year

As we stand at the edge of a new year, there’s a familiar pull to rush ahead.

New goals. New plans. New intentions. New versions of ourselves.

But before we step into 2026, I want to invite you to pause right here—with 2025.Not to critique it.Not to rush past it.Not to reduce it to a list of things you wish you’d done differently.

But to honor it.

Because this year asked something of you.And you answered—maybe not perfectly, maybe not loudly, but honestly.

Before the Resolutions… Let’s Talk About Recognition

We talk a lot about “New Year’s resolutions,” but not nearly enough about acknowledgment.

So many people move into January with a “What’s next?” mindset without ever stopping to say,“Look at what I did.”

And that matters.

Because growth doesn’t always look like finishing something big.Sometimes it looks like staying.Or leaving.Or trying again.Or doing something differently than you would have before.

Sometimes growth is quiet.Sometimes it’s messy.Sometimes it’s slow.But it’s still real.

And you deserve credit for it.

What Did You Do Differently This Year?

Before you think about what you want to change next, ask yourself:

What did I do differently in 2025?

Maybe you spoke up where you used to stay silent.Maybe you rested without explaining yourself.Maybe you held a boundary even when it felt uncomfortable.Maybe you walked away from something that no longer fit.Maybe you stayed with something that required patience and trust.Maybe you chose yourself in ways you never had before.

Even small shifts count.Especially the ones no one else saw.

Growth doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful.

A Shift I’m Carrying With Me

I recently had a conversation with a colleague that stayed with me.They gently reminded me to stop saying, “I’m trying,” and to start saying, “I’m doing.”

And whew… that landed.

Because “I’m trying” can quietly dismiss effort. It can minimize consistency. It can overlook resilience.

“I’m doing” acknowledges movement.Action.Presence.

Even if it’s imperfect.Even if it’s slow.Even if it’s happening in small doses.

So if you’ve been telling yourself, “I’m trying,” I want to offer you this reframe:

You are doing.

You are doing your best with the capacity you have. You are doing the work of healing. You are doing the work of learning. You are doing the work of showing up. You are doing the work of becoming.

And that deserves recognition.

What Are You Leaving Behind in 2025?

Reflection isn’t just about what you’re bringing forward—it’s also about what you’re releasing.

Maybe you’re leaving behind:Old expectations.Outgrown roles.Guilt that never belonged to you.The need to prove yourself.Relationships that drained you.Habits rooted in survival instead of alignment.The pressure to be everything for everyone.

Letting go is not failure. It’s clarity.

And clarity is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

What Will Journey With You Into 2026?

Not everything from 2025 needs to stay behind.

Some things deserve to come with you:

The lessons you learned the hard way.The boundaries that protected your peace.The confidence that grew quietly.The compassion you developed for yourself.The strength you didn’t know you had.The courage it took to keep going.

These are not small things.They are evidence of your growth.

Carry that forward.

This Is Your Moment to Say It Out Loud

Before you rush into vision boards and goal-setting, I want you to say this—out loud if you can:

“I did that shit, and I am proud of myself.”

Not because everything went perfectly.Not because you checked every box.But because you showed up. You stayed engaged with your life. You learned. You adjusted. You didn’t quit on yourself.

And that matters more than any resolution ever could.

As We Step Into 2026…

Let the new year be rooted in reflection, not pressure.Let it be guided by honesty, not hustle.Let it honor who you already are—not just who you’re becoming.

You don’t need to erase yourself to evolve.

You don’t need to dismiss 2025 to make room for 2026.

This next chapter gets to be built on acknowledgment, pride, and self-respect.

And before anything else…Give yourself credit.

You earned it.

Here’s to walking into 2026 grounded, honest, and proud of the work you’ve already done.