The only resolution I am making this year
Plus twelve potent journalling questions to ponder before the noise of the world rushes back in
It was still ink dark when I ventured out this morning, the air so cold my breath rose like tendrils of woodsmoke in the glow of my headtorch. The garden table, covered with frost, sparkled like diamond dust and the sky was pinned with stars. What a magnificent world this is.
I love to start a new year in this way – alone, out in the air, in awe.
I slowly navigated an icy path, the wheels of my bike crunching and sliding beneath me, and I made my way to Feathers (my tiny writing hut). In a short time the fire was crackling, the kettle on, a candle lit, and my notebook opened for whatever might arrive on this fresh new day.
What turned up on my page was something of a surprise - a new year’s resolution, surprising because I haven’t made any such things for a very long time. But my pen decided for me that I would, this year, resolve to do this:
Turn away from negativity and rudeness. Turn towards positivity and kindness.
Hmm. I wasn’t expecting that, but I like it. And I resolve to do it, because when I think about it, life’s too short to waste on rude people, and it’s better when spent with kind people, don’t you think?
I carried on scribbling away for a while, and then three cups of tea in I asked myself the twelve potent journalling questions you can hear me asking on the final episode of The Calm Christmas Podcast Season 5, ‘Joy to the World’ which was released today. I have pasted those twelve question below, in case you are curious, but if you’d rather you can hear me asking them, do have a listen. You can find it on iTunes, Spotify or here:
So here we go…
THE TWELVE QUESTIONS
Take your time. It’s fascinating what pours out when you do.
1. What is the single most important change or commitment you could make to support your physical wellbeing in the next twelve months and beyond? What might that look and feel like on a day to day basis?
2. What is the single most important change or commitment you could make to support your mental and emotional wellbeing in the next twelve months and beyond? What might that look and feel like on a day to day basis?
3. What is the single most important change or commitment you could make to support your financial wellbeing and sense of security in the next twelve months and beyond? What might that look and feel like on a day to day basis?
4. What does ‘living well’ mean to you? Which attitudes, habits, rituals and rhythms might help you live that way this year?
5. What would you like to learn about, study further or practise this year? Why?
6. What do you want more of this year, and what are you willing to trade, forgo or sacrifice to get it?
7. What do you want less of this year, and how will you ensure that happens? Be specific.
8. Map out the constellation of important people in your life (individuals and groups), and identify how each of them supports you, and what part of yourself is supported. Is any kind of support missing from your constellation? If so, where might you find it in the year ahead?
9. How will you steady yourself in times of inevitable uncertainty?
10. What are you hopeful about?
11. What is your intention for the year ahead?
12. And finally, what would you like to nurture this year?
If you’d like to share any of your answers in the comments, or share a general picture of what you hope to invite in this year, feel free to do so. I’d love to read it.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for being present in my world. I appreciate you so much, and I wish you a light-filled 2026.
Much love,
Beth Xx
PS Lots of you have been asking when my big gratitude sale ends – the answer is Monday January 12, no extensions! (Sorry but I have a book to write so the sale must end!)
Don’t miss the chance to get 30% off my upcoming live writing immersions for 2026 (Ink+Flame and Life+Time) and inspiring self-paced classes like The Book Proposal Masterclass, Do What You Love or Excavate Your Life. ALL individual courses are 30% off until Monday 12 January, but will be full price again after that so don’t miss out!
Alternatively, if you’d like to make a radical shift in 2026, don’t miss 50% off my carefully-curated bundles of life-changing courses, like the Flourishing Writer Bundle, the Live Well Bundle or the Book Dream Bundle. This offer also ends Monday 12 January!
If you aren’t sure what is the right fit for you feel free to email learning [at] dowhatyouloveforlife.com and tell me a bit about yourself and what you want to invite in in 2026, and I will personally respond once I am back at my desk next week.
At your service! Beth Xx
SALE MUST END MONDAY JANUARY 12!
I’m answering your question 2: I would like to make time daily for loving-kindness meditations. They helped me through the pandemic and I miss the warmth and hope they gave me.
Reflection is the best tool to come closer to our true and unique Self.
It's not the list of intentions or promises that we make, but how close are we to ourselves? There where our power of living a fulfilled life lies.
It's a matter of being able to come into the flow of Life. It's like surfing on the waves which only succeeds if we follow our inner fire after we found it.
There are no obligations. Look at the birds: they follow their natural flow and don't worry. Obligations are created in the logical mind that follows cultural dependencies.
Make no promises, but follow your highest excitement. Drop all the baggage of negativity and choose for unapologetic positivity that lifts you up. It's not running away from every negativity, but rather knowing which challenge belongs to us and which not.
My only intention: following the flow of my highest excitement deep inside my Soul.
It warrants an intense happiness, a life on fire, living in oneness with my passion, it causes a crazy addiction for this exceptional beautiful and magical Life, it connects me to the Source of my existence, causing an immense Love and gratitude for everything that surrounds me and fills my life, physically and non-physically.
Life is so much more than what we experience in the body. Once the Soul awakens, it becomes visible.
It's no new age hype, but something that comes in my experience every day deep inside of me.
It's maybe but a journey, but it's an amazing one.
✨🪷✨