Your Mind Fully Present: Honoring Completion and Welcoming What’s Next

Shedding the Old and Planting the New

As January unfolds, I’ve been reflecting on how the start of this year feels a little different for me.

Most years by mid-January, I’m ready to leap forward, excited to reset, make changes, and dive into what’s next.

But this year, I’ve noticed a slower, more deliberate beginning.

I’ve been hibernating. This isn’t unusual for me at this time of year, yet this year it feels deeper, more intentional, and definitely a bit longer.

Maybe it’s because we’re still finishing up the Year of the Snake.

Or at least I can blame it on that.

And maybe I’m still shedding what no longer serves me, while also figuring out what I want to bring forth, allowing myself to move slowly as I ease my way out of my cocoon.

What I am excited about is this.

We’ve just completed 2025, a 9 year, a year of completion, release, and closure. The number 9 asks us to finish cycles, reflect, and let go of what we’ve outgrown.

Now we’ve entered a 1 year, an energy of new beginnings, fresh starts, new seeds, and quiet initiations.

To make this transition even more meaningful, the Chinese New Year mirrors this same rhythm.

We are still closing out the Year of the Snake, a time of deep inner work, awareness, and shedding old skins so transformation can occur. The snake reminds us that growth often requires release.

In mid-February (February 17–18), we step into the Year of the Horse, a year of movement, momentum, courage, and forward energy. The horse invites us to move ahead with confidence, trust our instincts, and carry what we’ve learned into action.

This transition is also marked by a solar eclipse, which can help amplify intentions and bring clarity around what’s ready to move forward. It’s a powerful time to focus on what you want to bring forth.

Across traditions and systems, the message is the same:

Complete.

Release.

Set intentions.

Move forward.

The next few weeks are a beautiful time to take a mindful pause.

Reflect on what you completed last year, whether by choice or by circumstance. Notice anything that still feels ready to be released.

What intentions do you want to bring in?

What do you want to create: peace, love, a project, a home, a family, a job, joy, strength, resilience?

How do you want to move forward this year?

Baby steps or big leaps?

In trust or fear?

With gratitude and joy, or anger?

Nothing is wrong or right, but each decision brings a different outcome. With practice and intention, we do have the ability to choose how we want to move forward.

Sometimes this is easier said than done. Sometimes we have to dig deeper. And as I’ve mentioned before, sometimes we even have to be a little delusional, choosing trust, joy, peace, and faith before there’s proof.

But it truly can work.

A Gentle Practice to Support This Transition

As we continue shedding and preparing to bring in the new, this simple heart–brain coherence practice can help ground and support you.

Place one hand on your heart.

Breathe in for a count of 5.

Breathe out for a count of 5.

As you continue breathing, bring awareness to anything you may be ready to let go of and shed. This might include limiting beliefs, negative thoughts, or habits that are holding you back.

If nothing comes to mind, you can simply ask to release anything known or unknown that no longer serves your highest good.

Now, as you continue breathing slowly and steadily, think of a happy memory, a moment of gratitude, or something that brings you a feeling of unconditional love.

Continue breathing in 5 and out 5 and simply sit with these elevated vibrations.

Even one minute of this practice can help shift your energy and your perspective.

When you’re ready, gently bring your awareness to what you want to call in this year.

How do you want to show up?

What do you want to create this year?

What seeds do you want to plant?

How do you want to ride the waves of stress when they come?

Remember, no matter what is happening around us, we always have the ability to create our own inner peace, our own ease.

I wish you a year filled with beautiful creating, intentional planting, and lovely blooming.

You’re always welcome to subscribe to Your Mind Fully Present and receive monthly pauses for calm, clarity, and connection.

Sign Up for Newsletter