Setting the Stage for 2026
- Jennifer McNeil
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
“Set your intentions, find your focus, embrace the year ahead.”
We don’t walk into a new year fresh and spotless. We carry the choices we made, the people we entertained for too long, and the situations we tolerated when we knew better. The lessons of 2025 weren’t there to decorate your story. They were there to stop you repeating the same mistakes and calling it growth.
Look back honestly. Not through nostalgia or denial. Through evidence. What did the past year show you about your boundaries, your focus, your habits? Where did you give your energy freely, and who actually deserved it? Where did you take action, and where did you stall because you were scared of failing or being judged?
Your future isn’t shaped by affirmations taped to a fridge. It’s shaped by what you refused to repeat.
Your Three Biggest Intentions for 2026
Forget resolutions. They’re promises people write when they’re high on holiday optimism. Intentions demand action. They come with responsibility, not wishful thinking.
1. Commitment to clarity. No more filling your life with obligations and people just to avoid uncomfortable space. If it doesn’t add value, stop dragging it into another year. Letting go is a necessity.
2. Discipline over motivation. Motivation is unreliable. It dips the minute real life gets difficult. Discipline is what you lean on when you’re exhausted, frustrated, and nobody sees the work you’re putting in. The people who build what matters show up even when it’s inconvenient.
3. Ownership. Accountability is the adult version of freedom. You don’t get to blame your boss, your partner, your upbringing, the economy, or Mercury retrograde for everything. Choices have outcomes. You either choose consciously or unconsciously. Both still count.
Write these down somewhere you won’t ignore. The mirror you look at every morning. The notebook you actually use. The wall above your desk. A visible reminder that you aren’t winging it anymore.
Check In: Mind, Body, Emotions
If you want to move differently in 2026, you have to check whether you’re actually equipped to do it.
Mind Is your head full of noise? Resentment? Old arguments? Half-started ideas? Clear it out. Mental clarity is earned by cutting distractions, limiting pointless conversations, and doing real work instead of scrolling yourself into paralysis.
Body You don’t need to look like a fitness influencer. You just need the stamina to support your goals. If your body is constantly tired, sluggish, or ignored, don’t expect a big life to run through it. Strength feeds consistency. Sleep isn’t a weakness. Hydration isn’t optional. Movement isn’t punishment.
Emotions If you keep dragging pain, bitterness, or unresolved conflicts into every new chapter, you’re not evolving. You’re just relocating your damage. Emotional honesty is uncomfortable, but it’s cheaper than pretending you’re unbothered while your nervous system is screaming.
This is where reflection and structured support make a real difference.
My podcast offers guided journaling prompts to help you explore your emotions safely, make sense of your experiences, and begin to release what no longer serves you.
You can also use the accompanying personalised journal set to write, reflect, and track your insights as you work through what no longer serves you.
The Breakthrough Hub
For ongoing connection, practical exercises, and a supportive community, the Breakthrough Hub provides a space to process, share, and grow alongside others who are navigating their own journeys.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone else. What matters is recognising the patterns you’ve been repeating and choosing to respond differently.
2026 offers a chance to build on what you’ve already learned. If you want different results, begin by showing up as someone ready to handle them.
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