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?
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.
Vision Boards vs. Dream Mapping: A Soft Reframe
When we think of envisioning our goals, many of us are familiar with the concept of vision boards—structured collages that aim to capture our desired outcomes. While they can be inspiring, they often carry an air of rigidity, focusing on predefined categories or goals. This can sometimes feel limiting or overwhelming.
Dream mapping, on the other hand, invites a sense of freedom and fluidity. It’s a practice that removes constraints and encourages connection with our intuition. In a recent meditation circle, participants engaged in dream mapping after a guided meditation. One participant described the experience as returning to their “original mode,” much like an untouched device before external software is added. They were deeply moved by how their heart led them to their origin, despite all the “wrong” turns and distractions along the way. Another participant became emotional after viewing their dream map, sharing how powerful it was to take intentional time to see what had subconsciously emerged and to simply be with it.
The process of dream mapping is not just about creating—it’s also about witnessing. Sharing your map with someone you trust can amplify the experience, allowing you to feel seen and heard. If you don’t have someone to share with, journaling about your map is another way to deepen your connection to it.
Here’s how you can try dream mapping:
Gather materials: Collect colorful papers, scissors, glue sticks, markers, and magazines—even ones you wouldn’t normally use.
Set the mood: Begin with a short meditation or grounding exercise to center yourself. Invite the intention to allow the energy you need to flow in.
Create without structure: While there’s no need for a strict time limit, setting a boundary of 20 minutes to an hour can create a safe container for your creativity. Let yourself be drawn to images, colors, and words without overthinking. Arrange them intuitively on your page.
Reflect: Treat your map as a focal point. Sit with it mindfully and soak in all its details. What energy does it carry? What story is emerging? Is it something you want to add to over time, or does it feel complete?
Some participants have asked what to do with their dream maps afterward. The answer is deeply personal. You can frame it and place it somewhere you’ll see it daily, use it as a check-in point throughout the year, or revisit it after several months to reflect on its meaning. There’s no single right way—listen to what feels real for you. While it can mark intentions for this year, it’s also a timeless reflection of your energy and desires.
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.
Quality Connection: In times of transition, connecting with others can bring clarity and comfort. Be intentional with where and who you pour your energy into. Share your reflections, intentions, or even your dream map with someone you trust. Engaging in authentic conversations or shared activities can help you feel more supported and aligned as you move through the season.
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.
Embrace Longform: In a fast-paced world, we’ve grown accustomed to consuming everything quickly. But there’s beauty in slowing down and savoring the details. Whether it’s writing, creating, listening to music, or watching a film, choose longform content that allows you to immerse fully in the experience. Let yourself be present with the depth and richness it offers.
Honor Your Timing: Gentle beginnings mean giving yourself permission to take your time. It’s okay to not have it all figured out at the start of the year. Transition is not a race. It’s a journey, and you’re allowed to move at your own pace. Trust that each small step builds toward something meaningful.
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.