Journey with Della

We’ve entered that familiar time of year again—January, the season of new beginnings. The pressure starts to build. Social media fills up with people announcing new habits, fitness goals, vision boards, fresh routines. The collective message is loud and clear: “Start strong, go fast, get ahead.”

And for many of us, something inside whispers, “That’s what I should be doing too.” So we jump in. We download the apps. We sign up for the challenges. We reorganize our calendars, reset our diets, reframe our goals.

But what if that impulse—to move quickly, to keep up—is the very thing that sets us on the wrong footing for the entire year?

The Urge to Rush Is Understandable… But Unhelpful

Let’s be honest: the new year carries a kind of anxious energy. We feel behind before we’ve even begun. Everyone seems to be moving, progressing, doing. So we respond by rushing to get somewhere—anywhere that feels like progress.

But rarely do we ask: Where am I rushing to? And more importantly, Why?

The truth is, the most important thing you can do this January might not be to move faster—but to pause.

Choose to Pause: The Wisdom of Looking Back

What if, instead of pushing forward blindly, you paused long enough to evaluate?

What if you asked yourself:

What choices brought me to where I am right now? What patterns or decisions shaped my last 12 months? What lessons am I carrying—whether I want to or not?

This isn’t about self-judgment. It’s about clarity. It’s about knowing where you’ve been so you can move forward with purpose.

The pause is powerful because it shifts your focus from urgency to understanding. And that understanding is the foundation of real, sustainable growth.

Don’t Do It Alone: Invite God and Others Into the Process

Reflection isn’t something you have to do in isolation. In fact, the best kind of self-evaluation is done in relationship—with the Holy Spirit, and with a few trusted people who know you well and love you enough to be honest.

Ask for their insight. Don’t defend or explain—just listen.

Let their perspective sharpen yours. Let their encouragement remind you of what you’ve forgotten. Let their correction—if it comes—be a gift, not a threat.

This is how wisdom is cultivated: through intentional reflection, guided by the Spirit and shaped by community.

The Power of a Reflective January

If all you do this January is look back with intention, it will still be a month well spent.

Because the life you’ll be living in December 2026 will not be the result of one big goal set in January—it will be the outcome of hundreds of small decisions, made over time, rooted in what you understand about yourself and your values.

When you understand what drives you, you can choose what direction you go. You’re no longer living reactively. You’re living purposefully.

A Better Way to Begin the Year

So before you throw yourself into new rhythms, goals, or habits—take a deep breath.

Slow down.

Look back.

Ask hard questions.

Invite God into your memories, your mistakes, your milestones.

Let January be your month of reflection, not reaction.

Because the clarity you gain in this pause will do more to shape your future than any rushed resolution ever could.

Here’s to a year of intentional choices, clear vision, and steady growth.

May 2026 be an amazing year for you