Getting Ready

for what is likely and possible

With another new year beginning and the looming inauguration of another Trump presidency, this is an important time to check in with ourselves. Much like packing smart for a journey to a foreign land, it’s time to empty out our small suitcase (in case you’ve been storing things in it) and thoughtfully choose what to take with us.

Travelers, be ready.

Today, I’ll share one thing I tend to store and will take out to make room for what I want to bring in. I’ll also share one core practice that helps guide me forward. I will continue with this theme throughout January.

Over the year, I tend to store certain things in my suitcase—out of sight, tucked in what I call the ugly part of the basement. One of those things is unfulfilled promises.

It’s time to break some promises and be honest with myself and others. No more ghosting myself or anyone else with promises made but not kept. And no more clinging to promises that are no longer viable or possible.

What promises can you break to make room for what wants in?

TO BREAK A PROMISE

Make a place of prayer, no fuss now,

just lean into the white brilliance

and say what you needed to say

all along, nothing too much, words

as simple and as yours and as heard

as the bird song above your head

or the river running gently beside you.

Let your words join one to another

the way stone nestles on stone,

the way water just leaves

and goes to the sea,

the way your promise

breathes and belongs

with every other promise

the world has ever made.

Now, leave them to go on,

let your words carry their own life

without you, let the promise

go with the river.

Stand up. Walk away. Have faith.

TO BREAK A PROMISE from THE SEA IN YOU: Twenty Poems of Requited and Unrequited Love’ © David Whyte and Many Rivers Press

Strengthening Your Core, Inside and Out is a good thing to pack

One core practice in life—and in yoga—is to strengthen where we might be weak. Just as building our core and pelvic floor supports overall physical health and resilience, cultivating an intentional "core" practice can guide and strengthen us for what lies ahead.

At this time of year, my core practice is to set an intention for the year. Research tells us that resolutions often fail; most are abandoned by the end of January, and we tend to recycle the same resolutions for years without meaningful change. Goals and affirmations often fall short, too. (I explore this further in my book, The Zero Point Agreement: How To Be Who You Already Are.)

This year, my core intention is simple: I bring appreciation to every encounter. Alongside my intention, I’ve chosen a word for the year: friendship. Living with a core intention allows life to align naturally with that focus in practical and sustainable ways. It’s a practice of presence and purpose rather than pressure or perfection.

Energy follows intention. This truth is supported by a growing body of evidence demonstrating the transformative power of intentional living. Intentions, when written with action words, become contemplative tools that guide our choices and behaviors, offering life-changing possibilities. They shift us from being reactive to becoming active creators of our lives.

For paid subscribers, please contact me for the simple steps to help you craft your intention for the year and use it as a guiding light. With this practice, we align not just our actions but also our energy with what matters most.

May this year be one where you live with purpose, presence, and a deep connection to your intentions. Next week, we’ll explore what else to unpack and what else to carry forward as we navigate the art of living creatively with adversity.