They say some years are for asking questions, and others are for finding answers. I love this perspective because it reminds us that wants, desires, and wishes often can’t be rushed. It gives me permission to slowly deepen into what I love, a little more each year.

I’m hosting two New Year’s workshops—one virtually and one in-person—and as I’ve been preparing the journal prompts and content for each, I’ve been reflecting on the purpose of reflecting. Where is it that we are all trying to go, anyway?

Each year is full of unique experiences, contrasts, and challenges that help us know ourselves better and nudge us toward new possibilities. I find it fascinating that we all carry such rich stories, along with different desires that want to be met.

This year, I made the choice to close my vintage shop and step fully into my purpose as a coach, holding visions for others to fully step into. The transition reminded me that growth is never linear. Huge moments of expansion are often followed by contraction—and learning to hold both as signs of progress is where the real magic lives.

Here are the five universal truths 2025 instilled in me:

1. Desire alone isn’t enough- capacity and reciprocity matter

Just because you want something- love, money, a new career- doesn’t mean you automatically have the capacity for it. When we open ourselves up to our wildest dreams, they can feel like a fantasy, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible. Often, if we look close enough, there’s an invitation to break through our fears and build the capacity we need to hold more of our truth.

I started 2025 with a romantic heartbreak, and through processing the grief, I realized that true intimacy and meaningful exchange truly require shared energy, effort, and clear expectations. This was asked of me to refine in my work as well as I invite others into shared spaces in new ways.

2. Transition is fertile, not linear

Claiming your autonomy means owning that you have the power to design your life however you’d like. Feeling stuck is often an invitation for change. Even though I loved my vintage shop and it was successful, I began to feel limited in the time and energy I could devote to each part of my work. I knew I was ready to focus on building something bigger.

Sometimes moving forward requires a step back. Transitions are uncomfortable because we’re shedding old ways of being before stepping into a new identity. Have you heard the saying, you don’t eat the fruit the day you plant the seed? I’m learning that means believing in yourself no matter what—so keep laying that foundation.

3. You don’t have to try so hard to be shown, and held

In January, I signed up for a creative non-fiction writing class on a whim, and it set the direction for the entire year. Writing became a way to process my thoughts and feelings and slowly turn them into wisdom for others—something I’d always wanted to do but hadn’t known how to start. I’ve realized that finding your voice comes from using it and noticing how it threads together over time. This led to my first speaking engagement, followed organically by two more!

It also led to making significant investments—both time and money—into my coaching business strategy and branding. Working with others reminded me that strategy work cannot be rushed. The real value of support often comes from the container that holds you through an exploration process. I’m deeply grateful the experiences helped me figure out what I truly want to build next, giving me the confidence to move forward.

4. Sometimes life meets you better than you could imagine

Going to Europe the summer I turned 40 wasn’t on my manifestation list—and that’s exactly the point. You don’t have to try so hard to make everything happen. Sometimes life surprises you in ways more generous and meaningful than you could ever plan for. Not everything needs to be earned, proven, or orchestrated. Here’s your friendly reminder to always stay open to receiving!

5. Hope comes from staying with yourself

As an Enneagram 4, I feel everything deeply and can sense when things aren’t ideal. While this sensitivity fuels creativity, disappointment has also been one of my greatest teachers. After my breakup, I noticed I was sourcing hope from imagined futures that could heal the past, rather than tuning into what I truly needed in the present.

This year became a rewiring of sorts. I committed to not abandoning myself—no matter what. Whether exhausted, heartbroken, or terrified to share something true, I’ve learned that it’s only by choosing who we want to be in the present moment that can lead us to our future.

In the Chinese Zodiac, 2025 was the Year of the Snake—a time of shedding old identities and building quiet power, recalibrating internally before outer expansion. That surely resonates deeply with me. How about you? What have been your big themes from the year?

For me, 2025 laid the foundation for a sense of self-worth rooted in embodiment, not just in my mind. This feels drastically different from the faster-paced ways I’ve built things in the past, and I’m proud of the seeds I’ve planted.

The hope I hold for 2026 comes from the newly found clarity around what I authentically want and need, and honoring that truth with small, steady actions I trust will compound over time.

If you’re looking for a deeper container for reflection, I’d love to invite you to join my virtual intention setting workshop this Sunday, 1/4, where we’ll explore the energetic themes of 2026, revisit manifestation fundamentals, and move through a future-self meditation together. There will be space to release what you’re shedding and share intentions if you’d like—but there’s never any pressure. If you sign up, you’ll receive a workbook with guided journal prompts too.

For those local to the Bay Area, I’ll also be hosting an in-person vision-boarding workshop on Sunday, 1/11 at The Marin Merchant in Sausalito. I’d love to see you there.

Cheersing you to a fresh slate—and I’ll see you on the other side!