YEAR-END RESET, DONE RIGHT

Ready to end the year with something deeper than hype? Here's a grounded reset that ditches quick fixes and builds a life that actually fits: it's taking an honest review of the last twelve months, choosing a single word to anchor your choices, and having simple daily rituals that keep you steady when life is loud. No perfection, no performative resolutions—just clarity, courage, and a plan you can sustain.

Starting with reflection that tells the truth: the wins you want more of, the pain that still lingers, and the patterns that quietly drain you. From that clarity, we go into talking alchemy—keeping the lessons while laying down the weight. Then we choose a word with intention and caution, because embodiment invites initiation. You’ll hear how sisterhood tested me this year and why “poise” is becoming the compass for 2026: less reactivity, more rooted confidence.

From there, we reframe attitude as a daily lever, not a personality trait, and get honest about values and desires that are truly yours—truth, vitality, simplicity, creativity—so you can set a GPS you’ll actually follow. We translate vision into one to three concrete coordinates, build a plan that flexes with real life, and highlight sacred practices that are small enough to stick: mindful walks, three-breath resets, weekly check-ins, and other anchors that bring you back to yourself. Fulfilment isn’t luck; it’s carved from the inside out, then echoed by results.

If you’re craving a sustainable way to step into 2026—clear-eyed, steady, and self-led—press play. Then share your guiding word and one ritual you’ll commit to. Subscribe, leave a review, and send this to a friend who’s ready to craft a year on purpose.

More from me at KirstyDee.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Setting Intentions For A Powerful Year
• 2:50 Sustainable Reflection Over Quick Fixes
• 5:40 Year Review: Lessons And Alchemy
• 11:30 Turning Hard Seasons Into Strength
• 15:30 Keep The Gold, Leave The Linger
• 18:45 Choosing A Word With Intention
• 24:20 Sisterhood Initiations And Growth
• 30:10 Poise As An Anchor For 2026
• 34:00 Attitude Checks That Change Trajectory
• 38:00 Clarifying Values And True Desires
• 45:20 From Desire To Coordinates
• 50:00 Build The Plan, Tweak The Plan
• 54:40 Sacred Practices That Actually Stick

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

This is season five of the Truth and Transformation podcast. This is a podcast all on living a life wildly authentic to you. It's raw, it's real, it's vulnerable, it's explicit, it's unedited. I'm your host, Kirsty D. Let's go.

SPEAKER_01: 0:13

Hello, hello, hello, lovely. So today I want to talk about ending the year really powerfully and just stepping into a new year in the most delicious, embodied, beautiful, satisfying, empowered, like all the things weigh. Now, if you're listening to this and it's not the beginning of a year, I still feel like this is relevant. I regularly do like a reset kind of thing of like what's working, what's not working, what do I want more of? What do I want to let go of? What do I desire? What matters to me? But I particularly like to do this at the end of a year and going into a new year. I like that the astrology changes. I like using winter as a time to, I mean all seasons, but a time to really go inwards and to really reflect, but not in this way that society teaches that is like utterly not sustainable and most people fall off after a few weeks. That's not what we're doing here. So what I thought is I'd go through some of the things that I do, and then you can like pick and choose what feels aligned for you. I don't necessarily recommend doing all of these things unless that feels really, really good. I'm gonna give you a bunch of things that I do, and then I want you to tailor this to a process that feels so aligned for you and to take the bits that stick out the most. And the reason that I say that is because if we try to do all the things, we end up being one of those people that in a few weeks it's just like okay, this is not this is not happening, this is this is too much. So that's not what I want. I do all of these things, but because I've been doing this a long time, and it's not something that I'm just starting in in a new year, this is something that I actively practice all the time. So I already have those habits, it's already like locked in, and I just tweak it and amplify it with a new year. So that's that's the difference. If you already have a pretty solid kind of routine doing this, maybe you can implement them all. But I just want it to be sustainable, I want it to feel good, I don't want it to feel like another thing to do. I want it to be the opposite of that. So let's get into it. So, first of all, I want you to reflect if you are doing this on it or like going into a new year, if it's the beginning of the year, I want you to really reflect on the last 12 months. Now, if you're doing this at some other time in the year, you can still do the same thing. You can still reflect on the last 12 months, or you might find it better to just look back on the last three to six months. Like whatever season you're in, go back one to two seasons. And I want you to just spend some time contemplating so you can just like journal on this, you can literally just sit with yourself, like reflect on this, you can go on a walk. I find journaling really powerful because when we put it down on paper, then like then of course you can't you can't hide from it, you can see what's there. So you literally just get a get a journal, get a bit of paper, and just write about the last year or three months or six months, depending on the time of year that you're doing this. I'm gonna be like, okay, reflecting and journaling on the whole of 2025, and what I what you're doing is you're looking to see the things that you really liked, the things that really stood out, the kind of year it was, the the moments that were like, fuck, that was shit, did not like that, the stuff that you're still carrying, but also the stuff that you like and you want more of. This is about getting clarity. If you've if you write this and you're like, oh gosh, this is not it, then as hard as that is to sit with, there is power in that. Like when we actually confront something, we can create change, we can create alchemy. But when we like avoid doing that, and this is something that I see like so many people don't have the life they want because they don't want to go there, they don't want to confront it, they never learn because they don't spend some time to just sit with, okay, what's coming up for me? And then they end up every year going, oh, another shit yeah, another shit yeah. And yes, I totally get there are some years that still happens that is outside of our control. But if you're seeing that every single year, then you need to look at that because there is a part of you that needs to make some changes. And if it's been a really good year, it's like let's not take it for granted. Let's let's take everything that kind of worked and look at it and not take it as um a coincidence. I mean, yes, some years are just coincidentally going to be better than others, you know, the stars are lying more, but I'm such a firm believer in a really, really, really brilliant year is never ever a coincidence. It's stuff that you've got really intentional about, you've really lined things up, and then at some point you see the fruits of your labour. Some of the best years and the best seasons I have had, when I look back, I'm like, oh, I definitely didn't see it instantly. But it was the work that I did three months, six months, nine months, sometimes even a year before. And yes, there is a part where also circumstances aligned where you know, like there wasn't anything horrendous sort of happening in my life. So, yes, there is there is that part of it, but it's like everybody has years where they are better than others, but only the people who have really, really great, fulfilling years, it's because there there is there is work there, there is work there, and it's I just know that that is never a coincidence. It's never a coincidence, and I also know that you you can't control what's gonna happen in life, and if something hard happens, if you've done this foundational work, you're more you're more um likely, in fact, you're totally gonna be putting yourself in such a much stronger position to navigate that rather than the person who hasn't. And also, there are people who actually have the potential for a really good year, and they still won't, because life will life and stresses will come up, and then they'll go, That's just life and another shit, yeah. Where they have just thrown the baby out with the bath water, they haven't learned the skills, they haven't done this thing, and they're in this kind of like mindset rather than it didn't have to be that way. Like, yes, this thing happened, that was hard, and that was challenging. Welcome to the human experience, that is everybody. Only you created a whole narrative and got really, really drowned in that, rather than okay, like I'm human. So temporarily, like, whoo, this is a lot. Again, welcome to the human experience, but it doesn't become my life, it doesn't become, oh, here's another year, that wasn't that wasn't great. So that's the difference, and that is why it's so important to do this work. It's so important, and I really believe like the hard seasons, not to take away from like the fact that they're heart can really, really shape us, and from those experiences, we can really create something really beautiful, like really deeply fulfilling. I just I always say this, but I always think if you've gone through something hard or something challenging, make it count. And I can pretty much guarantee I bet there's been some some hard bits in 2025 or whenever you're doing this process. Like, I don't know anybody that ever has a year where it's all sunshine and roses. That I don't know that person. Like, that's not that's not like really human, that's not how the human experience works. But I do know the people that have had a really deeply fulfilling and there's also been hard bits, like that is not that is not a coincidence. So you're gonna reflect and you're gonna journal, and you're gonna just be with whatever's coming up. And if there are parts that you were like, oh, that's still lingering, that is still heavy, oh, there's still some stuff there, you're gonna be with it. You're not gonna avoid it, you're gonna extract the lessons, you're gonna feel the feels, and then you're gonna actively decide what you do not want to carry into this next chapter. Because it won't just get left in 2025, coincidentally. It gets left, it gets alchemized because you actively attend to it. You actively attend to it. You're like, this is still lingering over, this is still ouchy, this is like the stuff there, like you have to attend to the scars. Every human has scars, but some people's scars become this like open infested wound, and then they go, that's just life. And it's just like, no, no, no, attend to what is there, and it doesn't mean it won't still hurt, it doesn't like like it doesn't mean that. It means that they are able to build joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, beautiful relationships, even though this thing happened. It didn't define them, it shaped them, but things can shape you to like for you to be to feel better than ever, like for you to not take certain things for granted, for you to really get cleared up on what you care about and what your values are and what really matters to you and where you want to spend your time and to really really align with that. So that's the first bit. You're gonna intentionally be like, ah, that's not working, that's like that's not it. That thing is still sticking out, like I'm I'm still thinking about that thing, that thing is still impacting me in in some way. Okay, I don't want to carry that over. I want to carry over the lessons and the wisdom it contains, but but the the insecurities, the beliefs, the stories, the narratives, the fear, the the dysregulated nervous system, whatever it is for you, that needs to be addressed. That needs to be addressed because otherwise it's going to leak out in ways that I don't want it to. And then the other side of that is think about the best bits of 2025. Think about the bits that stick out. Like if you had to choose, I don't know, five, ten, twelve at most. Okay, let's let's like 13 at most, because divine feminine is 13. So 13 at most, but we don't want to go more than that because otherwise, then you're not really refining. Um, but 13 at most, but you could literally do three to five, whatever, whatever feels most in alignment for you. I want you to think about the best bits, the best memories, the things that meant the most to you. And these can be little micro things, but they just landed with you, or depending on the year that you have, they might be big, they might be significant things. And hopefully you can pick out at least three with ease. And sometimes, and the other reason this is important because we forget about these things unless we do this exercise, right? And if you're struggling, that means you've probably had a pretty hard, pretty hard year. Um, which is even more important to do it. But if it's easy and you can go, this, this, this, this, this, there's wisdom in that, it that tells you so much about your values and your wants, and possibly who you like hanging around with and the things that you like doing. It's such intel, there's like so much fucking delicious wisdom in that. So, with all that information around the stuff that's like still, you know, gnarling at you, you you've got a lot to go on of like, okay, this this needs addressing. And from there, what you'll find is over the coming weeks, like the your intuition will guide you on what to do. So it might be like, I'm gonna hire this person because I need to look at this situation, I need to address it because stuff's coming up. I might just like just keep journaling on it. I might create my own alchemy practice. Of course, you can always hire me for alchemy stuff and to process things with my point. Is your intuition is going to to guide you, but it can't guide you if you don't bring it to the light, if you suppress it, if you like don't look at look at the things, but if you do, then it can guide you. And at the same regard, your intuition can also guide you on the bits that felt really good and the bits that you liked, and it can it will give you kind of um a plan, a GPS of like, huh, based on the fact that I've now got really clear on that was really good, I really, really liked that. It's gonna kind of guide you on how to intentionally create more of that in your life. Because again, it's not gonna be a coincidence. So that that's the first bit. You're gonna reflect, you're gonna go over 20, 25, and from there, from that clarity, your intuition's gonna come come forward. The next thing that I want you to do is I want you to choose a word now. Because you've done the first exercise, then that will help you choose a word if you haven't got a word already. If not, give yourself a little bit of time. I don't want you to overthink this thing, but like you can give yourself a week, two weeks, no more than two weeks. If you were doing this for more than two weeks, you are overthinking it. Like, this there's no test here. They're like, like, don't overthink it. And if a word immediately comes through, I want you to to just to just trust that. But every year, and I've been doing this for a really long time. I don't know when I started it, but I reckon eight, nine, ten years ago. Now, again, if you're doing this and it's not, you know, the start of a new year, you can do this slightly different, where you can choose a word for the month or for the next six months, and then when it gets to a new year, then you can do do a whole year on on a word. I used to do it monthly, and then um and I used to change it every month, and then I started going to a year, and there's real power in choosing a word and really embodying that word for for a year, and there's no good choosing a word and then like not doing anything with it, which is something that I see a lot. This needs to be a word, and you need to put it in your diary, you need to have it front and center, and like every month you need to see what's coming up. And here's what I'm gonna say: I'm gonna, there's a little caution that I'm gonna give when you choose a word. The word you use, you will, the universe will test you to like, are you really gonna live this word? Are you gonna really embody this word? So I just say that with caution. One year I choose the word expansion, and I don't recommend that word, by the way. But occasionally sometimes people tell me they've chosen that word and they've already chosen it, so I like I don't say anything. I'm like, oh okay, cool. Um, but that, yeah, was a beast because I was expanded in ways that I just was not expecting, and um, and I realize now whatever word you choose, you will be required to really do the work that it's like mastery, it's like satin vibes, and some people will be like, well, why choose a word if you're gonna be like tested on it? That seems scary. And it's because of that thing, it's like do the do the uncomfortable thing. It's like a really fulfilling life has risks, and it this is not like a risk as in anything bad is gonna happen, it's a beautiful opportunity for you to, as I say, become really like to really master something, to really be embodied in something. But what does that require? It requires like nobody gets good at something because they're already good at it, they get good because they're tested on it, because they have to practice, because they have to fucking live it. They have to embody it, not just when it's hard and when it's easy, like when life is lifing and things come up, like they've gotta be like, Oh, am I gonna really be with this? I'll give an example. So, as we're wrapping up this this year in 2025, my word for 2025 was sisterhood. And oh my gosh, I got initiated on sisterhood. If you're a regular listener, you've probably heard me talk about this a fair few times now because talking about things that like that like I've needed to let go and I've needed to process and and work that I'm gonna be doing as I'm leaving you know things that don't serve me in 2025 behind. Is I had um like a friendship break breakdown, and it was a real like sisterhood shit show. The universe was like, hey, you're gonna, you're gonna, you're gonna do this thing? Come on, you said sisterhood, and then it was like here here's some sisterhood shit. Woo! Let's see how you go, babs. Let's see how you go. It was like the ultimate sort of alchemy thing that I was like, oh, fuck. Good one, universe, good one, of like, can you really um be a stand for sisterhood? And what lessons do you do you need to learn? And and there were some lessons to learn and um not fun. Not fun. And I think at some point in in the new year, I don't know when, because I'm gonna be I'm gonna be processing this all myself and integrating it. But I just believe that women need other women, and I just believe in sisterhood so much, and I just think it's so frigging important. And my good gosh, if I learned some things from this whole experience. So at some point, I don't know when. It could be next week, it could be the week after, it could be in a month's time, it could be two months' time, it could be six months' time. I really want to do an episode on sisterhood, like I don't know, the sisterhood code or something like that. Because what I realized from all this experience is like I can be doing my work, but it doesn't mean other people will. As we know, there is a sisterhood wound, and that sometimes causes other women to be shady, to not have your back, and there's no good being like la la about and pretending that isn't a thing. We know it's a thing, and what I've learned from that experience. So, all that to say, whatever word you use, you will be tested on it, and you get to really see that from this really beautiful place. Like, I have this deep like gratitude for as shit as it was, like this whole situation. That is not me bypassing it, I'm not gonna pretend it was easy, it was not, but oh my gosh, like I tell you what just keeps going in my head, like what my intuition, divine spirit, higher self, whatever you want to call it, keep saying to me, like, what if this is all happening for you? What if this is all happening for you? And I just really feel that deep within my soul. Like, I just feel the up level in sisterhood, in love for myself, in knowing my worth, into really, to be honest, stepping into that like divine feminine energy of really stepping into my queen era who just doesn't put up with shit like that anymore. And I really got tested on that, and I really had to just embody that. Like, there's always just more layers to these things, and yeah, and and to be honest, like this this this hasn't ended. Like, I'm I'm recording this in advance, so I'm recording this beginning of December, it's gonna go out, end of December. And so I'm still because I'm not at the end of the year, still integrating some things. I've still had more things kind of come up. Um, I had something come up, a different situation, but again, around sisterhood that came up for me this week. And it's like, oh universe, like you are really like going for it with this one. You were like, come on, come on, bitch. Like, come on, you know, and my whole thing is like standing for really beautiful, incredible relationships, but like not just in terms of marriage, not just in terms of if you've got kids, like all relationships. So it was like, okay, come on, like let's let's do it, let's do it in sisterhood, let's do it in friendship. Come on, are you gonna you're gonna be a stand for this? So that's that. So choose a word, and it's gonna be something that there's a reason for you. Maybe is it something that you really desire to call more into your life? Maybe is there's some mastery there. So for me, 2026, based on what happened in 2025, my word for 2026 is poise. And um, this actually came up in an event that I did this year. I did an online circle, it was the only online circle that I did this year, and it was like on the Divine Feminine Reclamation, and it was a word that kind of came through as we were talking on that session, and it just stuck with me. And that was obviously my intuition talking to me. But actually, the reason it stuck with me even more, if I like reflect on 2025, and as I say, I'm I'm still reflecting from from when I record this to when to when you hear, right? Um, I'm thinking about the things that got me out of my power because every human gets out of their power at times, and and for me it was this sisterhood stuff. And so the reason that in 2026 that I am choosing this word of poise is because like I want to really master being really anchored in myself, being really, really rooted in in myself, being really confident in myself. And I have seen that happen this year through all of this stuff that's happened, and I really just want to go deeper. And I know I'm gonna be tested on this. And is that fun? No. But is that the kind of stuff that's gonna change my life? Yes. So I'm willing, I'm willing to do it. It's a bit like when you go to the gym. Is it always fun? No. Sometimes you don't want to go, but it's like, okay, but I feel better because I'm taking care of my body. But is it always fun? As I say, absolutely not. But it's that thing of like, that's what creates the life we want. That's what creates the relationships we want. It's not just doing what's easy. What's easy doesn't create the life we want. We know this, like what's easy and what's cheap and what's fast usually takes us backwards from the life we want. You know, like what's convenient, what's readily available, what we don't have to do any work for usually ends us up with like not great relationships, not great mental health, not great emotional wellness, like all of these things. But doing the hard thing that is gonna bring challenges with it, and I don't mean challenges as in like the universe is gonna like do some awful thing. No, I just mean as in you're gonna be given an opportunity to really embody it. So, what do you want to really embody? What do you want to really master? What do you really wanna call in? You know, it might be like I want to be more confident, it might be that I want to call in love. One year I I did love as a word, um, and that that was really beautiful, actually. And I really like I really called in more love. Um the irony in in sisterhood, and and it didn't last, but I learned honestly, like so much from that that I would not be who I am right now. Like I've done so many different words over the years. Um last not last year, but in 2024, for the first time ever, I actually chose three words, and um that was kind of difficult, but it felt aligned, so I like trusted it. And um one of the words that that I chose was author, and whilst you know, like that didn't happen and and the book didn't come out, by the end of 2024 I did have a book, and now I'm in this process of editing it, and it's been a real long hard slug all of 2025 editing it. But I just believe if I'd never wrote had the word author as one of those words, I don't think We Was a Woman would have ever been completed. But it hasn't been, it hasn't been a fast process, book's still not out, still still working to bring that to you. And again, that's the thing. It's not always like some things happen and change really, really fast and really quickly, but usually the things that matter the most to us, like people don't want to talk about this because it doesn't sell, it's it's not as sexy to be like, yeah, it took me, it took me years. Like people buy into in 30 days' time this can happen, and in two weeks time, and like because you know, we don't want to often do the hard work because it's it's a lot, you know. So think about your word. And as I say, what can really, really help is because you've reflected on everything everything so far. The next thing that I want to say is attitude. Now I'm not gonna say a lot on this, but bar that it really matters. Your attitude is going to shape your life. Not just this year, but your life. And if you go into this, yeah, and I see this all the time, like, oh, I hope this year's better than the last year, blah blah blah blah blah, like, and you've just got this kind of like mindset that is kind of sort of feeling sorry for yourself. Like you're allowed to do that, you're allowed to be human. I have days where I definitely feel sorry for myself, right? But if you live in that, if you live in that, you lose. Like, you lose. And sometimes, like, we really do have to what's coming through is dust ourselves off, and that's not quite it, because it's not as simple as that. Our nervous system doesn't work like that. But it's it is this thing of like be tender with yourself when you feel like that, like reparent yourself, be there for yourself in the way that you would, you know, for for a for a child that it was your responsibility to just make sure they were like really emotionally well, that their emotional needs, not just their physical needs, were really attended to. So, you know, when you feel like that, and when you have days like that, and when your attitude really, really sucks, allow that, right? That is that is human. We all have days when we get into like shitty moods and we're the glasses half empty, and we're like, what is the point? And all of that. But I just want you as you're going into this year to just really, really keep an eye on that, and to just be mindful of the fear in the stories and the beliefs that are there, and I just really want you to just spend some time possibly cleaning up your attitude if it is not serving you, and only you know if your attitude is not serving you, like and I say this because I often have to clean up my attitude, and it's like, okay, I can address these things that are not great, but if I like kind of stay in that, like I'm the one that loses, I'm the one that loses, and there's just always blessings, and there is always beauty, and sometimes we just have to actively look for the glimmers because your survival self, your primal self, is always gonna look the other way because that's what keeps you alive, but it doesn't allow you to thrive. So, yes, address anything that's there that needs to, but you have to actively work on your attitude, and you're gonna need to check in with this, you know, throughout throughout the year. And then so I have a few bits here. I actually, as you know, if you're a regular listener, I don't script anything, but because this there's a lot when you're thinking about going into a a new year, I did like just write some bullet points of like things that you know that I I thought would be really helpful for for this episode. So the next one I've got is values, desires, and areas of your life. You need to get really, really clear on what your values are. Because something that I always say to people is like, if you don't set the GPS, the world life, everybody else will. And then you look back and you're like, oh, my life doesn't feel so good, it doesn't feel so fulfilling, it doesn't feel so authentically me. But then when you speak to those people and you're like, what do you care about? Not what you've been conditioned to say, not what you've been conditioned to be tall, like it is the most important thing to you, because often people will be like, Well, it's family and it's this and it's that. And I'm not saying those things aren't true, but usually there's other stuff underneath that because we've just been so conditioned to be like to say those things. Oh, well, it's my partner, oh well, it's my kids. And I'm not saying it's not that for a lot of people, that is a hundred percent the thing, but there can also be other things underneath that. So, for instance, one of my values and something that I really, really stand for, but if I'd never done this kind of work, I wouldn't have have known it, is like truth. Like, I just am such an advocate for truth, living authentically. So when I tapped into like to to me, it was like, yeah, of course it's my kids, and yeah, of course it's my marriage. But like, if I just stuck there, that was like the generic surface thing, which yes was true. But if I hadn't done that internal work, I would have never been like, oh, what really matters to you is living a life authentically to you. But if I'd never got that clarity, then there's no way I'd have the life that I have now. But because I got so clear on that, even when people didn't like it, and even when it like ruffled feathers and got me backlash at times, I was able to be like, but that's my value, and this feels so right for me, and this feels so true to me, and I'm living to that. And that has changed my life in like such profound ways, but it just came from knowing that you know. Other people's values like it'll be wildly different. Some people might have the value of simplicity, some people might have the value of like vitality, some people might have a value around being charitable, like whatever it is, and they just haven't been like lining up with that, and then they're like, oh, things don't feel quite right, and they don't feel quite fulfilled, because it has to be more than like you know, family and relationships, it has to be like what's underneath all of that? Like, what do you, if you were to look at a like a list of words of values, and obviously you can Google these things and a list of kind of you know, feelings and stuff. This is work that I've been doing for years and years and years. Like I started off doing like Danielle Laporte's like desire map work like a long, long time ago. Like I don't think like she even does that. I know like the book, you can't even buy it anymore. But it was like based off that, and I still to this day like come back to that, like my core desired feelings, my core desired values. And for me, they haven't really they haven't really changed, but truth's there, you know, hence the name of this podcast. Some people don't really give a shit about that. They're like, I mean, actually, I think everybody really wants to live true to themselves. If they're they're really honest, it doesn't feel good not to, but what I mean is it's not as big a deal for some people. Like it's not, yeah, it's just not as it's not as big a thing for them. They feel more cold to, I don't know, like activism or something. My point is your values and your desires, like you need to get really clear on what they are. And again, with desire work, a lot of people are frightened to go there because they're like, oh, well, if I admit to myself what my desires are, there's a vulnerability because then what if they don't happen? But like I always talk about this a lot, you know, like one of my like programs, Scorpio Slut, like we talk about desire alchemy. It's like you pretending you don't desire the things you do does not help you, it hurts you because they still there, they still live in you, they still live in your body. You can't undesire what you actually desire, you can just pretend that you don't. And all the while you're pretending that you don't want what you actually want, you're not setting the GPS towards it. But that vulnerability to admit what you want and to take action towards that thing, like there is such power in that. And will it always work out? No, but will something beautiful come of it? Absolutely, if you intentionally go at it. So, for instance, I'm gonna go back to my word that was 2025, was like sisterhood, and there was a real vulnerability in kind of admitting that was something that I wanted and something that I cared. Did it go how I wanted it to go in 2025? No, it didn't. If I'm if I'm gonna be completely honest with you, it didn't. But is there such sacred beauty and gifts? Oh my gosh, yes. Like, I'm so grateful for them. Like, I know that there's me before doing this work and before sending it, and there's me after. And I I can't even put into words how beautiful it is, and as I say, I'm not gonna like sugarcoat and pretend that it hasn't been like it was brutal, you know, when I got tested on this, but like I am weirdly grateful, and not in this kind of like I don't know what's the word I'm looking for. You know how like some people it like enjoy pain, like massacres seders and things like not in that way, like this was this the there was this was not pleasurable at all. But was it needed? In my case, it was. And I know that I'm gonna look back, you know, if I'm blessed enough to reach double my age. I'm nearly 40 when I'm in my 80s and be like that was really pivotal. And if that hadn't happened, you wouldn't be the person you are now with everything you know now and the relationships and the wisdom that you have and the ability to teach and write the books that you've wrote. That was really hard to see at the time, but that was such a gift. But it came from the vulnerability of like admitting like what I wanted, admitting my desires, admitting that I care about certain things, that I yearn for certain things. And that's what you want you to think about as you go into this year: like, what are your values, but also what do you desire? And like looking at the areas of your life where you desire more and being able to be with that ache. Like this podcast episode isn't like, you know, some episodes where it's like, come on, let's kill 2026 and blah, blah, blah. And it's all like high vibe and all of that. No, I want this to be deeper. I want it to be more like, you know, taps in, like more soul-nourishing, that it isn't like because that's not that doesn't the other way, like, the other way doesn't work. Like that lasts temporary, and then we need to like keep plugging into those things again to to keep ourselves quote unquote high vibe and to keep the motivation up. But it's it doesn't really change our life that much. Like, I like I've tried those things, and what ended up happening is I'd feel burnt out, and my nervous system would be burnt out. But when I got really rooted in myself and I was like vulnerable with myself, and I addressed those things, and I admitted the things that I cared about, and I admitted my values, and I didn't kind of sugarcoat it, and I didn't um, you know, lie to myself and you know, pretend there wasn't work there or that it was always going to be easy. But I just truly honored the human experience and from there actively cultivated the lifestyle that I wanted. So this is where it then comes down to. It's then like breaking it down because as I said in the beginning of this episode, you can't do all the things, it needs to be sustainable. So then you choose like maybe one thing, maybe two things. I wouldn't go any more than three, and like you break it down and you decide on some goals or a GPS, whatever resonates with you more. I talk about this all the time, but like you have to set the coordinates to where you want to go. And then from there, you build the lifestyle, you build the sacred practices, you build the things that are going to create that reality for you. So, like all this, yeah, I've, for instance, kept coming back to I want to get a book out, I want to get a book out, I want to get the book out. Like, I'm still working on that. But imagine if I'd give up, it would never have happened. And a lot of people do, and I'm really working on getting my body in the best shape, I'm still actively doing that. Like, and obviously, once I get there, then I've got to maintain that. Like, there are things that I am working on and that I am building, but none of it is a coincidence. So, what you have to do is once you've got all that information and you've done all that, as I say, you need to set the GPS and you can set it to one thing, or as I say, three things at most, because any more than that, like it's just not potent enough, it's not refined enough, like you'll be trying to do too many things and end up achieving none of them. And ideally, if you choose more than one, they can somehow work together and emerge to kind of create the lifestyle that you want. So once you've got that information, you have to create some sort of plan. The plan can change, the plan should change because it's going to need tweaking so that it fits in with your lifestyle. But you just have to decide, you just have to take some action. Like, this is something that I'm always like refining and changing. Like, so when I think about, for instance, working on the book, like it's changed on the days that I'll work on it, on the times that I work on it, on the approach that I've got on it. The same as like really taking care of my body and getting into shape. Like, I've spent 2025 working out what works for me and what doesn't, like the foods that work for me, the exercise that works for me, and eliminating like what doesn't. Like, it's been like very much like kind of trial and error. And like, there's there's been things that have absolutely worked, and things that I'm like, that does not does not work for me. And and that's the point, but I've like just had to keep coming back to like where am I setting my GPS, what is the plan, and like really creating that lifestyle and what this has looked like for me, and this is I think how I want to wrap this episode up on having really sacred practices that align with your life. And what I mean by this is these things don't have to take a really, really long time. Um, they don't have to be big things. In fact, I recommend that they're not, otherwise, it's not sustainable. But when I say sacred practices, I mean things that bring you home to you and that feel so good for you and so nourished and are really actually part of the lifestyle you want. Because whenever we go for something, it's because we think it's gonna in some way improve our life. But instead of waiting for our lives to be improved, what if we just started doing the things now that feel really good for us, feel really nourishing to us, not weight, but also align with our values, also align with that GPS. So, for instance, for me, this has looked like um, like I regularly go for walks, and obviously that helps and aligns with like me getting into really good shape and like selling that GPS, but it has become such a sacred practice for me, like it really feels so abundant to me, to the point where like on the weeks that I don't go for a walk, um, like I really notice it. And I was doing this thing where I was like regularly trying to make sure that I got like my 10,000 steps today, which is like a generic thing that they recommend everybody aims for. Obviously, not everybody is like bodily able to do that, or just maybe the lifestyle they have, they're not able to do that. But I'm very fortunate that I can that I can do that, but when I say fortunate, like it doesn't happen by coincidence. Like I have to get my ass off the sofa and like actually do it, and I have to plan it into my day. So it started off as just a way to you know get into better shape and to take care of my body and make sure I was like getting fresh air, and I've enjoyed doing walks for a really, really long time, but like it just wouldn't happen regularly. So, as part of me building this lifestyle, and part of that lifestyle was like, I want to really be healthy and I want to be really well because I just know that the people that as cliche as it sounds, like live their best life, like they are well and they are healthy because if you were not well, then you were never gonna have that. Like, there's just no way. And this really became apparent to me after I've talked about this quite a few times, but I'm gonna circle back to it because it's really relevant. I ended up um having I'm gonna say it was a shoulder injury, but like I didn't do anything that would have like there wasn't a fall or anything, if that makes sense. Um and I just ended up like I ended up with a really bad shoulder. I don't know what caused it or anything like that. Um, but I was in so much pain, I was in like agony, and it was so painful, I like nearly passed out and and all the things, and it went on for quite a period of time. And what I realized is I was like, oh my gosh, like if I'm not well, like the quality of my life is it's like it really deteriorates. And it was one of those moments in my life that was a real wake the fuck up moment, and it really took me on this path. And again, talking about attitude, I really had to look at my attitude because when you're in pain, that quickly goes, you know, because your brain goes into survival mode. So it's like navigating all of that, and when my shoulder started um, you know, getting better and stuff, I was like, I don't want to ever take my body for granted again. So I went on this mission of like, okay, I'm gonna get into shape and all of that, but because of this injury, it's it's been like really, really slow and all of that. Um so I just started with when I talk about like being intentional, I just started with a plan. And the plan was like, okay, I'm not gonna be able to do anything super hard. Core, but I like walking. Walking's one of the best form of exercises, so I'm just gonna walk, and the recommended thing is like 10,000 steps a day. So I started doing that regularly, and as with most things, you start off and you start off well, and then it slowly deteriorates, and then life lives. And then what happened over the summer and like the six weeks' holidays, and like both kids being off school, like it just it went down. And then when September rolled around, like I still hadn't got it back up. And by the time I'd got to October, it had significantly reduced. And what did I notice? My body didn't feel as good, my back didn't feel as good. All of these things. Now, rather than give up, like most people did, I just paid attention. I was like, okay, you need to get that back up. And then in November, I'm recording this as I said, beginning of December, so we've just had November, I got it like back up again. And I'd realized from those periods where I wasn't as consistent, I hadn't completely abandoned it, but it just wasn't as consistent. And that's what I want to talk about. There'll be ebb and flow, and none of this process is linear, but it's just like what you can see when you kind of look back. I really realized like how important that practice is for me. Like it really is like a sacred practice for me. That when I make the time to go out and to be in Mother Earth and and to just be with my thoughts and to just feel into my body and to just process and like all of that, my life is richer from it without the external result of and being in better shape. Yes, all of those things, of course, happen, but it's like just the practice itself. Like, I notice when I don't do it, like I just don't feel as good. And I have various different practices that that I do. So to like, even just the practice of like doing this podcast and like scheduling it in, and I do something every week that you'll already know if you're a regular podcast listener. Like, I have a practice of on a Friday, I call it like fun Fridays. Not everyone's gonna be like in a position of their life to to do that. But what I will say is neither was I, neither was I, but because of years ago setting the GPS and like keeping working on these things, it became my reality. And as I said, not everybody's in a position to go for a long walk every single day. But there will be things now that nourish you in some way, shape, or form. And it's really important that you prioritize them and add them into your day. So for you, maybe it's like listening to this podcast, and it's like every Monday, I listen to, I know some of you do, that a new episode drops, and that can be part of like your sacred ritual. And that is the point you need to have things, and these don't have to be big things, they don't have to be, you know, like things that go on for ages and ages and ages. They can just be so, for instance, what I'll often do is just get an inset stick and like light that and just that takes like 30 seconds of me lighting it and then just breathing in the smell. Like it doesn't have to be big things, it can be pouring a cup of tea and just taking three deep breaths, like whatever it is, but it's just having sacred practices that are sustainable, that are anchor points into your every single day. And what I see is a lot of society doesn't have those sacred practices, they don't have those rituals that are just like going through the motions of life, but they never stop to anchor it in. And then they'll say it's because they don't have time, and that is very valid, like they're very busy people, but I'm not talking about doing big grand things, you know. Like if if you're in a in a position to, then brilliant, great. But it's not how much time something takes, and it's not about doing big grand things, it's about little intentional things that really bring you back to yourself, that really say to yourself and your soul and your body, I'm Mala, and I'm with you, and I'm being present with you, and like I'm gonna take care of you. That is the thing that when you look back on your life, that really makes a difference, and so many people don't do that, and they don't give themselves you know that time, and it's just so important. And you know, you if you're listening to this, maybe it's it's like I want to work with Kirsty Morton once a month, I'm gonna hire her. Just choose something that brings you into yourself that keeps you on your GPS. Not the one that everybody else is like telling you like you should live your life like this, and the one that you're gonna look back in a year's time and be like, because so much can happen in one year. In fact, so much can happen in three months, six months, nine months, but particularly in a year where you look back and be like, oh, those practices, oh, choosing to let go of that previous, yeah, oh, that word I really embodied. That's when you look back and kind of go, like, wow, I I did that, I created that. But I'm gonna just keep saying it and I'm gonna wrap this up saying it. The life you want and a really, really, really beautiful life, um, really beautiful, yeah, even, but also life, will never ever be a coincidence. You are going to have to carve it. You are going to have to actively show up for it, and that's what creates the fulfillment. Fulfillment isn't something anybody can hand to you. Fulfillment is carved inside out. It's you aligning with what's right for you, with your values, with your desires, with actively showing up for whatever a sacred practice would be for you. And if you don't have one right now and you don't know what that is, just try different things until you find something that becomes like, wow, this this is really nourishing to me. And when I say nourishing, I don't mean something that gives you a fucking high and then you're on a come down. That is not a sacred practice. That's what a lot of people do. They're like, I'm gonna binge on this thing, I'm gonna like this this habit, like we all know the things, but there's nothing sacred about them. It's actually trying to numb because we don't want to be with the thing that feels hard and uncomfortable. A sacred practice deeply, deeply serves you long term and short term. Not as saying you'll necessarily notice the big differences. Like I don't go out for a walk and every time I'm be like, whoa! Do you know what I mean? It's not that. It's not that it's more that I notice when I don't do it. Like I just don't feel so good. And that time for myself, it it really is very sacred. And it really like my life is really just so much more beautiful for it. Anyway, I will end it there. I'll be back next week with another podcast episode. Have a brilliant, brilliant evening, day, weekend, whenever you're listening to this. And if you do happen to be listening to this at the end of the year or beginning of the year, happy new year. And I am sending you all the love and good vibes for 2026. And I just want to say believe in yourself, trust yourself, and know your worth. Go into this year, really, really honoring you. And as I say, I will speak to you next week.