Is this the year you stop overwhelming yourself and start living it?
You did the work.
You sat there last year,
Probably with a cuppa that went cold,
Writing goals that stretched you and excited you.
Goals that felt aligned.
Goals that made you think,
Yes,
This is my year.
So why does it feel heavy already?
If you're listening to this thinking,
Maria,
I should be fired up.
And instead,
I feel overwhelmed.
You're exactly where you need to be.
Nothing has gone wrong.
You're not behind.
You're simply trying to hold the whole year in your head at once.
That's enough to overwhelm anybody.
Let's slow this down and talk it through.
Just you and me.
This is why it feels like too much.
Right now,
You're looking at January through to December in one go.
The goals,
The expectations,
The responsibilities,
The version of you that you think you need to become overnight.
Your nervous system is clocking all of it as urgent.
This is not a motivation problem.
This is not a discipline problem.
This is a focus problem and it's fixable.
It's about lifting your eyes and picking a direction.
Remember,
Focus on where you're going,
Not everything you need to do.
Ask yourself one question.
Where do I want to be by the end of this year?
Not how will you get there?
Not every step,
Just the direction.
Clarify first.
Everything flows better when you know what you're moving towards.
And that voice in your head is not the boss.
You know the one,
The inner commentary that says things like,
Who do you think you are?
Or this always happens.
Acknowledge it.
Don't argue with it.
Don't let it run the show either.
That voice is usually trying to keep you safe,
Not successful.
You can hear it without letting it distract you.
And then make a plan that actually works.
Big goals need small steps,
Tiny ones.
It's all about having an achievable plan.
You need a plan that feels manageable and creates momentum.
Momentum then builds confidence and confidence changes everything.
Instead of asking,
How am I going to do all of this?
Ask,
What is the next step I can take?
This is where small consistent actions come in.
Not dramatic leaps,
Not all or nothing energy.
Just steady movement in the right direction.
And when life happens,
Pause first.
Things will not always go according to plan.
That is not a failure.
That is life.
When something doesn't work out,
Pause,
Reflect,
Take action.
No spiralling,
No self-blame,
Just curiosity and adjustment.
And make sure not to miss the point of the year.
This one matters.
Enjoy the journey.
I know you've heard this before and you're probably bored of it.
And yet it's true.
Enjoy what is happening right now.
Not when you hit the goal,
Not when everything feels calm.
Right now,
In this moment.
Notice the progress and celebrate the wins that seem small.
Let this year be about building confidence and self-trust.
Not just ticking boxes.
The best year yet isn't created in one big moment.
It's created in how you show up for yourself again and again.
This year is not about asking you to do more.
It's asking you to do things differently.
You're closer than you think.
So take the time to look at the one small step you need to do right now.
And let that build with momentum so that this is your best year yet.
