The new year has a way of sneaking up on us.

Not with fireworks or big declarations—but with a quiet question we don’t always know how to answer: Is this really how I want to keep living?

I felt that question land hard recently while hosting a workshop called The Golden Week Reset. I came prepared with content, structure, and a plan. But what unfolded surprised me—in the best possible way.

The women who showed up didn’t need a workshop.

They needed coaching.
They needed space.
They needed to talk.
They needed to feel seen and heard.

And what they were carrying? It wasn’t small.

The Weight So Many Women Carry Quietly

Every woman in that room had a huge heart.

She was the dependable one.
The helper.
The fixer.
The strong one people lean on.

When something needs to be done—or someone needs support—she steps up without hesitation. And that is beautiful.

It’s also exhausting.

What broke my heart just a little was realizing how normal it has become for so many women to put themselves last. Not dramatically. Not consciously. Just quietly, over time.

Joy becomes optional.
Dreams get postponed.
Business goals get pushed to “later.”
And eventually, life starts to feel like survival mode.

Not miserable—but not lit up either.

When Being “Good” Turns Into Being Depleted

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that being good meant being selfless. That our value was tied to how much we could give, hold, or carry.

But martyrdom is not the same as service.

When you’re depleted, exhausted, and disconnected from yourself, everything costs more energy. Patience is thinner. Creativity dries up. Presence feels forced.

On the flip side—when you feel supported, joyful, and connected to what lights you up—you actually have more to give.

You’re more patient.
More creative.
More present.
And honestly? You’re more fun to be around.

Joy doesn’t make you selfish.
It makes you sustainable.

A Gentle Invitation to Reconnect With Joy

As we step into a new year, I don’t want to offer you another resolution or a massive overhaul.

Instead, I want to invite you into a softer reset—one that starts with curiosity and compassion.

If you have a notebook nearby (or even just a quiet moment), these journal prompts are a beautiful place to begin:

Gentle Journal Prompts for the New Year

• On a scale of 1–10, how important would it be for you to feel joy again?

• What would feeling more joy actually change for you—your energy, your relationships, your business, or your life?

• When was the last time you felt truly lit up?
  Not productive.
  Not needed.
  Just joyful.
  What were you doing? Who were you with? How did your body feel?

• What’s one small way you could invite a bit of that feeling back into your life this month?
  Not a big overhaul. Not a resolution. Just a spark.

No pressure. No perfection. Just honesty.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

If you’re reading this and realizing you’ve been doing it all alone, I want you to hear this clearly:

You don’t have to.

Support doesn’t always look heavy or serious. Sometimes it looks like fun. Or connection. Or community. Or a simple monthly check-in.

Sometimes the bravest thing we do is let ourselves be supported.

As we step into this new year, my wish for you is simple and sincere:
That you stop treating your joy like a luxury.
That you stop waiting until everyone else is okay.
That you remember—gently—that you matter too.

You are allowed to want more.
You are allowed to feel good again.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Here’s to finding your spark again. 🥂