Entering the New Year with Love

As we transition from the old year into the new,

our culture encourages us to set New Year’s resolutions.

But I’d love to offer you a gentler and more nourishing alternative.

One that’s rooted in love for yourself,

rather than the pressure to become “better.”

Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions,

I invite you to set Loving Intentions for yourself.

Resolutions are born from societal pressures,

fear of not being good enough,

and the belief that something about us needs to be fixed.

Resolutions come from the mind’s desire to control outcomes.

They tend to feel heavy because they’re driven by "shoulds".

No wonder most of us give up on them in the first couple of weeks.

It feels so much better to set Loving Intentions for the New Year.

Particularly intentions that arise from Self-Love.

They feel spacious and supportive.

Intentions honor how you want to feel in the year ahead.

How you want to care for yourself.

How you want to show up for yourself.

How you want your life to unfold.

Intentions also reflect what you want to cultivate.

The types of relationships, habits, and experiences you want to have.

They come from a place of truth within you.

Resolutions ask: What do I need to change?

But Intentions ask: How can I love myself better this year?

✨ Allow your Intentions to rise from the true desires of your heart.

As you stand at the edge of a new year,

instead of giving in to the pressure of setting resolutions,

pause and get clear on how you want to show up for yourself.

And as you consider the intentions you want to set,

try asking yourself softer questions:

- Where in your life do you want more peace?

- Where do you long for more ease?

- Where are you being asked to honor your boundaries more lovingly?

- In what ways are you being called to love yourself more deeply?

I have a simple ritual that supports this way of entering into the new cycle.

Each New Year’s Eve,

I light a candle, center myself with some deep breaths,

and write a letter of gratitude to the year I’m completing.

Gratitude for the moments of joy.

Gratitude for the amazing experiences I had.

Gratitude for all the love I gave and the love I received.

Gratitude for my challenges and how they stretched me.

Gratitude for the lessons that shaped me.

Gratitude for all the ways I showed up for myself, even when it was hard.

Then, from that place of reflection and appreciation,

I set my intentions for the upcoming year based on how I want to feel.

And I choose a few specific words to act as reminders.

(Last year my words were Surrender and Connection.)

You’re welcome to borrow any part of my ritual.

Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

Shape it in whatever way feels best for you.

There’s no right or wrong way to do it.

As the year unfolds, remember that intentions are not set in stone.

They’re allowed to evolve as you do.

You can revisit them, soften them, or reshape them.

What matters most is the quality of your relationship with yourself.

So let your intentions rise from your truth.

You’re not setting goals for who you think you should be ~

you’re honoring the Wholeness of who you already are.

As you step into 2026,

may you do so with kindness, curiosity, and care.

May loving yourself more completely

be the foundation beneath everything that unfolds for you this year.

"Remove shoulds from your vocabulary this year. Start your journey of Self-Love now."

~ Kelly Martin

🎉Getting Clear for the New Year:

If you're unsure what intentions you want to set for the New Year,

you can simply center yourself with a slow, deep breath,

then place a hand on your heart and ask:

"How do I want to feel as I move through my life this year?"

Let the answer gently arise from within and guide you forward.

If you'd like to receive these posts directly to your inbox,

please click this link or the button below to officially subscribe*.

Thank you for being on this Self-Love journey with me.

You're on my list of gratitudes for this year.

You're always welcome to invite a friend to join us ~

just copy and share this link with them.

If you missed a previous post, you can read them all here, on my blog page.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can leave comments below,

or scroll down and submit a direct message via the "Connect With Me" form.

I look forward to welcoming you to this space again soon.

Let’s rise together ~ in Love & Light,

Jaime

Subscribe Here

>> Read the Previous Post >>

<< Read the Next Post <<

* It's my intention to keep this blog "light" in every sense ~

light in length (2-3 mins), light in energy, and a light in your life.

Your info is safe, I promise to never flood you with messages or sales gimmicks,

and it's easy to unsubscribe if you aren't enjoying the journey with me.

✨ PS) If you're curious about the deeper Self-Love journey as the path to optimum healing,

Or if you want to learn more about what I do as a Self-Love & Integrative Health Coach,

Check out my website. I'd love to welcome you there!