The Quiet Resolution That Makes 2026 Feel Lighter
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What if we started 2026 by letting go?
Did you know Viktor Frankl believed that even when everything else is taken from us, we still have one freedom left. It’s the ability to choose our response in any given situation.
It’s a truth that feels especially powerful as we begin 2026.
What’s in store:
Why 2026 doesn’t need to start with pressure or perfection
The mindset shift that helps you lead without carrying everything
5 simple, grounding practices to help you focus on what actually matters
A gentle reminder that letting go isn’t giving up—it’s moving forward differently
Read Time: 5 minutes
As we step into January - full of fresh calendars, new goals, and the quiet pressure to get it all right - there’s something we don’t often hear in the conversation around resolutions:
Sometimes, it’s not about doing more.
Sometimes, it’s about letting go.
Letting go of the illusion that we can control everything, in our work, in our homes, or in our children’s learning journeys.
Because here’s the truth many of us need to hear, especially at this time of year:
We cannot control every outcome, but we can choose how we respond.
It’s a subtle shift, but a powerful one.
Whether you’re leading a team or encouraging your high school teenager who’s quietly losing confidence in their studies, this mindset can bring more clarity and calm into 2026.
Here are 5 reminders I’m keeping close this year. Perhaps they’ll support you too.
1. Choose Presence Over Prediction
The start of a new year can stir up regret about what didn’t happen in the last, or anxiety about what lies ahead.
But real change only happens in the present.
This doesn’t mean ignoring lessons or refusing to plan.
It means gently bringing your attention back to what’s real right now.
The shift: Notice when your thoughts drift to what was or what might be. pause. Breathe. Gently return to what is.
Ask: What choice can I make in this moment?
Your power lives here.
2. Protect Your Energy With Boundaries (That Feel Good)
Saying yes to everything can feel generous, but it often leaves us scattered, overextended, and not fully present.
Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out.
They’re about making space to show up well, both for yourself and others.
The shift: Before you say yes, pause.
Ask: Does this align with where I want to direct my energy this week?
If not, it’s okay to say no with care and clarity.
Try this phrase: “I’d love to help, but I’m currently focused on a few priorities. Let’s reconnect later.”
It’s okay to have limits. You’re not a machine. You’re a human.
3. Change How You Speak to Yourself
Many of us hold ourselves to standards we’d never expect from anyone else. If your inner voice has been more of a critic than a coach lately, you’re not alone. But it can be retrained.
We all have moments where we second-guess ourselves or feel like we should be further ahead.
But here’s a gentle reminder: you’re doing your best with what you’ve got, and that’s worth honouring.
Try this reframe: “This is new for me. I’m learning as I go, and that’s okay.”
4. Acknowledge the Hard Without Adding Extra Weight
Difficult moments are part of growth. But suffering often comes from the story we attach to them.
“This is hard” is a fact.
“This is hard and I’m failing and I should’ve done better” is a story.
This week, try naming what’s hard, without judgment.
It creates space to respond with clarity, instead of spiraling in self-blame.
5. Interpret Events in Ways That Move You Forward
The meaning we assign to events is often more powerful than the event itself.
A hard conversation might feel like a rupture, or a step toward deeper trust.
Did something not go as planned?
That doesn’t mean you failed.
It might mean you learned something crucial for the next step.
The shift: When something unexpected happens, pause.
Ask yourself: “What else could this mean?
Is there a more empowering lens I can choose?”
This is not about ignoring reality (or toxic positivity), but rather choosing a more empowering lens through which to see it.
A gentle invitation for the year ahead
Letting go of control doesn’t mean we stop caring.
It simply means we stop trying to control the uncontrollable,
and bring our focus back to where it can make the most difference.
In our leadership.
In our parenting.
And in how we speak to ourselves.
However you’re starting the year, whether with intention or exhaustion, know that small shifts in focus can bring big change.
Wishing you clarity, calm, and moments of light as you begin your 2026.
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As you step into the new year:
👉What’s one thing you’ve been trying to control that’s not really yours to manage?
👉And what’s one thing within your influence that deserves more of your attention?
👇 Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.
Here’s to a 2026 guided by clarity, not pressure.
And thank you for being a part of our Linked And Lift community!
Until next time,
Véronique Barrot
Educator | Founder, Linked And Lift
Helping women leaders grow their impact, and their high school teens achieve French exam success at the highest level.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights Monday to Friday (except Wednesdays).
P.S. For those who are newer here: alongside writing Linked and Lift, I work with women leaders in two closely connected areas - strategic personal branding, and supporting their high school teens with IGCSE, O Level, A Level and IB French when confidence or foundations are shaky.
Different contexts, same intention: helping people rebuild what was never quite solid, so progress feels possible again.