Every year around this time, something soft shifts in me. I find myself gearing up to gear down. It’s the end of the year, the last episode before my Christmas break, and there’s something beautifully honest about acknowledging that December is… a lot. Instead of pushing toward productivity, this episode opens up a space for wishing, reflecting, and creatively setting intentions for the new year.
I’ve always felt that January isn’t the true beginning of anything. It’s a landing place. A recovery month. February is when I start picking my head up again, and March is when things finally begin to move. Over the years, I’ve learned to trust that rhythm instead of fighting it.
This year’s reflections were deeply inspired by a session inside my Business Circle, where each member shared three anonymous wishes for themselves. The themes were breathtakingly universal: less procrastination. More courage to make difficult choices. A quieter head. A peaceful balance between work, rest, and play. More time with loved ones. And perhaps the most relatable of all — stretches of peaceful time to create.
These wishes reminded me that what we’re really craving isn’t a list of goals. It’s a way of being.
Intentions guide us through the year more gently than goals ever could. Goals measure whether we achieved something. Intentions shape how we move, feel, choose, and show up. They reduce pressure, shame, and the perfectionism so many of us are trying to unlearn.
An intention is a direction, not a deadline.
A feeling, not a finish line.
A way of showing up for yourself and your work.
In this episode, I walk you through a simple intention-setting practice you can do with me:
Step 1: Look back with kindness.
What felt good this year? What drained you? What surprised you? What did you learn?
If you’re a bullet journaler, this is where your past notes become a gift: the “working / not working / more of / less of” reflection spread does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Step 2: Name what you want more of.
Ease, courage, stillness, creative time, boundaries, softness. The wishes from the Business Circle offer beautiful prompts.
Step 3: Choose one or two intentions for 2026.
Phrase them as: “In the new year, I intend to…”
Make them spacious and supportive.
Step 4: Anchor them.
Put them somewhere visible. Draw them. Make a collage. Share them with a friend. Let them guide decisions big and small.
Last year, my intention was to cultivate harmony and balance across all areas of my life — and it still feels true today. Maybe yours will stay with you for years, too.
Wherever you are as we close out 2025, I hope this episode offers a breath, a moment, and a gentle way to step into the new year with clarity and care.
✨ Helpful links: – What’s Your Path? Quiz → https://8pdnswikuav.typeform.com/to/Y... – Join the Ja, Wol Community → https://community.ja-wol.com – Coaching with me → https://www.ja-wol.com/pages/coaching – More about the podcast → https://www.patternshift.fm
✨ Mentioned in this episode • Bullet Journal® Method (official website) https://bulletjournal.com • The Berlin vlog will be on my YouTube channel soon /@pattern-shift
✨ Work With Me & Explore More • Ja, Wol Business Circle Membership A monthly space for makers and creative business owners — with Wins & Woes sessions, co-working, accountability, and ongoing support. https://www.ja-wol.com/pages/business-circle-membership • Bullet Journaling® Workshop A gentle, creative introduction to integrating the BuJo Method into your life and business. https://www.ja-wol.com/products/bullet-journaling-workshop
✨ Get in Touch If you try the intention-setting exercise — I’d love to hear what intention you choose for 2026. Email: info@ja-wol.com Contact form: https://www.ja-wol.com/pages/contact
🧶 If this episode resonates, like, subscribe, and leave a comment on YouTube / or your podcast platform — it truly helps others find their path too.