Happy Monday! As we settle into this first month of the year, lots of people have been asking about my word for the year. I had decided a couple of months ago that my word for 2026 was going to be "Gratitude" and then a friend and colleauge upped the ante by challenging me to have a word for every month as well! I'm still working on that list, but I wonder - do you have a word for the year? If you do, please share it here! I found this site that shares some great ideas for choosing your word for the year: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/word-of-the-year-ideas

This is one of my favourite lessons - I remind myself of this everytime I feel uncomfortable. I know some people who will do just about anything to avoid discomfort - they'll go so far as to fast-forward through parts of shows or movies that "feel too tense". This constant avoidance of discomfort actually makes us more sensitive to it and weakens our resiliency. What are your thoughts on this? (And please, no shade to my massage therapist. He's the reason I have range of motion and all my ribs are seated where they're supposed to be).

How did you spend the last hours of 2025? Did you party it up? Spend it in quiet contemplation? Somewhere in between? Our new year celebrations were quiet and subdued. In past years, we have celebrated at church (watch-night service - if you know, you know), with friends in their homes, or quietly at home. This year, we were happy to be quiet at home. That said, we still have some little traditions that carry over year to year. 1. We reflect on the year that was. 2. We celebrate the wins. 3. We let go of the losses. 4. We contemplate our intention for the coming year. The latter part of this year has been one in which gratitude has become a prominent practice. This looks to be pushing into next year, with my words for 2026: THANK YOU. More than ever, I see the value of gratitude not only for stabilizing and strengthening mindset, but also putting us in a heart posture to receive. I'm open to receiving all the abundance destined for me in 2026. In 2025 I experienced the honour of traveling to Amsterdam to speak on the MIndvalley stage - something I had dreamed about but not imagined would happen so soon. I published another two books, and helped two more authors to become first-time published. My private practice settled into its new space and welcomed a host of new clients throughout the year. I appeared on more actual and virtual stages than in the previous year, and refined my personal brand. I made a conscious decision to be more visible and engaged in my community, so I joined a board of directors for a chamber of commerce, and I am still learning how to show up in that space. The last time I served on a board of directors was Y2K. I took my faith to another level, learning that I don't have to perform to be loved or accepted. I spent quality time with my family and loved on my grandbabies whenever I could. I decided to take control of my diet and get my diabetes under control (AIC is dropping nicely!), and I had the privilege of hosting my dad for Christmas - for the first time since 2007.

I love thinking about self-care as a spiritual and sacred act, something I do to honor my health, well-being, and fulfillment in life. I have grown to appreciate that self-care is not just something we do, it is also a way of being. Spiritual self-care includes all of the thoughts, feelings, and actions we choose to focus on in order to nourish ourselves in mind, body, heart and spirit. Our mental physical, emotional, and spiritual energy are created through acts of self-care that generate a sense of wellness, and joy in life and work. When it comes to self-care, it's important to remember, you're human and not perfect. Self-care is a process and it is not about perfection. It is about taking self-loving action in the direction of your well-being, health, and joy each day. It is the devotion to showing up for yourself and your own needs each day, or as often as possible, regardless of what else is going on in your life and despite how many other people and circumstances require your attention. Self-care involves making yourself a priority in the midst of it all. Which can be easier said than done at times.

Hey there - and welcome to our new members! Thank you for joining this little community - we're excited to have you here. I have been working on a couple of projects - one is a fun project that will be a Christmas gift to my grandkids; the other is Volume II of The Mastery Code: Mental Health Matters. As I was finalizing my chapter today, I got thinking about how my inner child likes to mess with my life. She isn't doing it on purpose - she is only trying to help. Here's the thing: my inner child (and yours) responds to stimuli that feel familiar (a disapproving look, feedback that feels like criticism, someone setting a boundary) in a way that makes sense for my inner child. Think of this for example. Have you ever been in a situation that left you feeling angry, afraid, offended, or trapped and you started behaving in a way that didn't seem to make sense? Have you ever caught yourself asking, "Why am I doing this? Why can't I stop?" That's because your inner wounded child has taken over. They recognize the feelings and they hijack the interaction thinking that "this time" they can finally solve it. But what needs to happen is that your adult self - the one that has the skills for self-regulation and problem solving - must take control of the situation. We do this first by calming our inner child and helping them to feel safe. THEN, we can step into triggering situations fully as our mature adult selves and do the hard work of solving the problem. Can anyone relate to this? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments. My chapter in The Mastery Code Volume II is all about healing your inner child. I can't wait for it to come out so I can share it with you!