This episode is a little different. After sharing my 2025 reflections on Substack and intentionally celebrating the small wins I usually overlook, I felt a shift in how I wanted to approach the year ahead. That reflection led me to move away from a traditional vision board and toward something that feels more grounded and sustainable: a becoming board. In this episode, I walk you through how I set my intentions for 2026 and why focusing on who I’m becoming feels more aligned than focusing on what I want to achieve.

I also dive into why New Year’s resolutions so often fail. Research shows that nearly 88 percent of resolutions are abandoned, most of them by January 19th, and for years I was part of that statistic. As someone who loves to research the “why,” I started digging into behavior change, seasonal rhythms, and psychology. What I discovered completely changed how I think about goal-setting and why January may not actually be the best time of year to demand massive change from ourselves.

We explore the idea of honoring natural seasons instead of forcing progress on an arbitrary calendar. I even share a surprising historical lesson about when the new year used to begin and why January 1st became the default. That discovery led me to rethink how I want to use the first few months of the year, which is why I’m focusing on what I’m calling “ministones” from January through March as a way to prepare for the bigger milestones I want to reach later in 2026.

In this episode, I guide you through the exact exercise I used so you can try it for yourself if it feels supportive. I reflect on 2025, explain why I’m treating 2026 as a season rather than a checklist, and share the core intentions I’m carrying with me into this year. I also talk about the power of visual reminders, a quote that created a major mindset shift for me, and an evidence-based reel from a behavior change expert that helped everything click. I’ve never felt this energized stepping into a new year, and my hope is that this episode helps you find a slower, more intentional way forward too.

Follow Karin on Instagram: @karinnordinphd: https://www.instagram.com/karinnordinphd/