Gentle Beginnings: An Intentional Start
Gentle Beginnings: An Intentional Start
As the calendar turns to a new year, we often feel an unspoken pressure to leap forward quickly with grand resolutions and ambitious goals. Before we go further, I’d just like to stop here for a moment and breathe into the energy of the words “resolutions” and “goals.” How do they make you feel? Perhaps there’s a sense of excitement, hope, or motivation. Or maybe there’s an undercurrent of urgency, overwhelm, or even hopelessness. There’s no right or wrong answer.
What if we shifted the approach? Instead of immediately setting something up—achievable because of an international holiday-like expectation that we’ve built around New Year’s resolutions—we allowed ourselves to ease into this new season of life with a sense of gentleness and intention.
What if we took the time to really consider, when we have the time, what it is we want to move toward?
This January, I’ve been reflecting on this idea since last year and sharing it in my meditation sessions both online and in person. It has been truly beautiful to witness people embracing this new way and experiencing how it gently eases them into the process. I wanted to share some of these experiences, thoughts, and practices to help you explore this gentler approach if you feel called.
For many, this month marks a significant transitional period—coming out of a fun and exciting, family- and socially-oriented winter break in Western culture. For others, it’s continuing to prepare for the end of the Lunar New Year, bidding farewell to the Year of the Dragon and welcoming the Year of the Snake in many Asian traditions. And for those in third-culture environments, you may be experiencing both.
There are so many beginnings, endings, and transitions happening simultaneously. Endings and beginnings are constants in life. While they bring opportunities and a sense of renewal, they can also feel externally dictated, disrupting our balance and leaving us feeling a bit lost in the process. We may feel pushed to keep up, forgetting to pause and consider where we truly desire to go.
Mindful Tips for Easing into the New Year
Here are a few mindful practices and reflections to help you ease into this new season with intention and grace:
Breath Awareness: Spend just one minute a day focusing on your breath. Notice the way it moves in and out of your body, the gentle rise and fall, the rhythm it creates within you. Be still and take your time. With each breath, remind yourself of the freshness and possibility that each moment holds. This practice can be as simple as closing your eyes, placing a hand on your heart, and allowing your breath to anchor you to the present. If you’d like guidance, click here to listen to a short guided meditation to support you in this practice.
Go with the Flow: It’s natural to want to rush and figure everything out. But what if you simply listened to your body and your soul instead? They are your guides. Honor what you feel—whether it’s rest, stillness, movement, or connection. Trust that the answers will come when they are ready.
Dreaming with a Map: Reimagine how you visualize your dreams and intentions. Instead of creating a structured vision board, try creating a “dream map.” Gather colorful papers, scissors, glue sticks, and magazines—even ones you wouldn’t normally choose. Sit with these materials and let yourself explore without structure or expectation. Allow your intuition to guide you. What catches your eye? What sparks your curiosity? This can be a solo activity or something you do with friends. The process is about discovery, not perfection.
Quiet Reflection: After creating your dream map, spend some time connecting with it. Look at the images, colors, and words that emerged. What energy or story is being revealed? Journaling your thoughts or sitting quietly with your creation can help you deepen your understanding of what you need and desire in this new season.
Intentional Movement: Movement can be a powerful way to release stuck energy and invite fresh air into your life. Whether it’s a gentle yoga practice, a walk in nature, or simply dancing around your living room, let movement bring you a sense of freedom. Especially during times of transition, moving your body can help you feel more connected and less overwhelmed.
Honor Your Timing: It’s okay to not have it all figured out at the start of the year. Give yourself permission to take your time, to pause, and to trust the unfolding process. Transition is not a race. It’s a journey, and you’re allowed to move at your own pace.
Honoring the Gentle Transition
This January, let’s honor the transition into the new year with softness and care. You don’t owe anyone a perfectly articulated resolution or a meticulously planned path. What you owe yourself is the grace to move at your own pace, to listen to your inner needs, and to begin again as many times as you need.
Here is what one client shared about their experience in creating a dream map in this month’s in-person circle:
‘Visionaries and change makers, now is the time to transform a legacy. How? With big ideas for leading the fight for freedom and justice. Celebrate culture and art creating change.’ I needed to do something with my big feelings, and Jessica made space for our dream mapping, making collages to allow our intuition to help us set intentions. This is what came up for me in this 20-minute exercise: we can’t change it all, but we can work to transform the legacy we’ve been handed in ourselves. Feeling hopeless? Make art. Make space for others to make art. Gather, and remember your power, joy, and hope. - @readfreedrawfree
If you’d like to explore this idea of gentle beginnings in a supportive, nurturing space, I’m here to guide you as a Meditation Coach. Together, we can create the time and space you need to tune into your energy, discover your intentions, and flow into this new season with ease!
Let’s breathe into this new beginning together.