It’s wild to think there is only one day left in this year.
Somehow, 2025 managed to speed past while also dragging on longer than I expected.
I’m not sure how it went for you, but for me, this year was another tough one.
At the beginning of this year, I lost both my uncle and my grandfather within just two months. The marriage I once believed was my miracle ended in divorce by midyear. After years of unexplained symptoms, I finally learned I was in perimenopause—a realization that hit just as I started silently grieving the idea of becoming an empty nester.
This year has felt like an emotional rollercoaster—my feelings swinging wildly from one moment to the next. When I needed a friend the most, I found myself more alone than ever. It was as if God was clearing people out of my life, both literally and spiritually, right when I was desperate for support.
EVERYTHING WAS CHANGING…
I’ve walked with God long enough to know that nothing is random—He does everything for a purpose. Even when His plan makes no sense to me or anyone else, I trust that He’s working things out for my good.
2025 came packed with loss and grief, but it also brought moments of joy and celebration. The year began with a dream opportunity: I was offered a life coaching job at a university, joining a team of incredible coaches. Suddenly, I found myself working with college students—something I never imagined I’d be doing, but it ended up being one of the brightest parts of my year.
I returned to therapy this year, and honestly, the timing couldn’t have been better. I also took the best trip of my life—Hawaii with my son—and, for once, I made a real effort to put myself first. It turns out, that small act of self-care made all the difference.
With the year winding down and the new one just ahead, I wanted to share a few things I’ve seen God doing in my own life—because I truly believe it’s part of something bigger. It feels like He’s been preparing all of us, not just me, for whatever’s next.
It’s hard to put into words, but for the past few years, I’ve felt like I’m teetering on the edge of something—restless, expectant, waiting for what God will do next. I’m convinced He’s moving in a big way, and I believe 2026 is when we’ll start to see it unfold.
If you’re a person of faith, I’m guessing you’ve felt that same sense of anticipation, too. Of course, we know that when greater things are on the horizon, resistance often follows. Scripture reminds us to expect both the blessings and the battles as God’s plans take shape. we’re going to begin to see a lot of those things in 2026.
But there are things we can do to be better prepared for the blessings and the battles that are on the way…
We all talk about the new year like it’s a fresh start, a chance to wipe the slate clean and welcome something new. But if you’re stubbornly carrying everything from this year into the next, don’t be surprised when nothing actually changes.
Things only shift when we let go—when we’re willing to do something different. As 2026 approaches, I honestly think it’s time for real, maybe even uncomfortable, changes in our lives. Look, I get it. Some of you hate change. You love your routines. You trust your plans. And you probably wish people would just let you stick to what feels safe and familiar.
But here’s the truth: that sense of predictability and stability you cherish? Sometimes, it needs to be shaken up. I say this because I used to be the same way. My routine was my comfort zone. But eventually, I realized it had become my cage. We can get so caught up in sticking to what we know, patting ourselves on the back for having a plan, that we don’t notice we’re just spinning our wheels.
It’s easy to mistake stability for progress—mainly because stability feels safe.
That steady job with the nice 401k feels safe. So does being married to your high school sweetheart. Even that house with the 30-year mortgage can feel like a warm blanket—predictable, secure.
But I don’t think we’re meant to just play it safe. The Bible is packed with stories of outrageous faith—people walking on water, surviving in the belly of a whale, coming back from the dead, all kinds of wild miracles. Honestly, I believe we were made to see miracles like those, not just read about them.
I didn’t always think this way. But the more I grow in my faith, the more I realize who I am in Christ. His word says, “greater works shall we do.” Imagine it: doing even bigger things than the ones who parted seas and healed the sick.
How’s that supposed to happen?
It starts with a shift—a shift in the way we think.
For most of us, the biggest thing holding us back is our mindset. Maybe your thoughts and beliefs have boxed you in for years. For some, your own mind has become a prison because someone told you your dreams weren’t possible, and you carried that hurt with you ever since. Don’t let another year go by where your dreams stay locked away, dying in your head. Don’t let the voices of others drown out what God says about you. The Bible tells us not to conform, but to be transformed by renewing our minds. In other words: change your mind, change your life.
Once you start to change your thinking, you’ll see everything else begin to shift. Your priorities are usually next…
WHAT USED TO MATTER SO MUCH NOW NO LONGER MATTERS AT ALL
They say wisdom comes with age, and I get it more and more every year. I remember hitting 30 and suddenly being able to see things more clearly. Up until then, I spent way too much time worrying about what other people thought. In fact, I let other people’s opinions shape my whole life.
It took getting into my 30s to realize I didn’t really know myself, or even what I wanted. Now I’m in my 40s—dealing with perimenopause, bouncing between laughing and crying—and the things that once seemed important have slipped down to the bottom of my list. For me, it took a brush with death to really shake me awake. I hope you don’t need something that extreme to reprioritize your own life.
I used to say I wasn’t afraid to die. But two years ago, when a doctor told me I had clots in both my legs and both lungs, it hit differently. In that moment, I realized something: I wanted to live.
Suddenly, all I could think about was the future I still longed for—watching my son get married, maybe having grandkids, traveling the world like I’ve always dreamed, and knowing that God still has things for me to do. I didn’t worry about my job, my bank account, or any of the things we usually obsess over. It was in that hospital room that my priorities shifted—permanently.
Then, at the start of this year, my whole family came together for my uncle’s celebration of life, not knowing that just two months later, we’d lose my grandfather too. My grandfather lived to be 101—a real blessing—but none of us are promised even a fraction of that. Every single day you wake up is a gift.
I know I’m saying a lot, but here’s my point: if you want to experience everything God has for you in 2026, take some time to examine and maybe even shift your priorities. The world keeps telling us to get more, do more, become more—but at the end of the day, what does it matter if you gain the whole world and lose your soul? And even if you’re not a believer, ask yourself: if tomorrow were your last day, would the things stressing you out right now actually matter?
When your mindset changes, so do your priorities—and that changes everything about how you live.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “when you know better, you do better.” But why does it seem like most people take forever to actually put that into practice? Almost everyone knows that smoking is dangerous, but millions still light up. We all know fast food isn’t healthy, but it’s still dinner more nights than we’d like to admit. We’ve seen the damage that toxic relationships can cause, yet people keep ignoring the warning signs.
Why is it so hard for us to actually do better? In my opinion, it’s because most of us haven’t truly decided that we want to. Real change always starts with a decision. That’s why shifting your mindset is the first step. If you’re tired of settling for less than what you were meant for, make up your mind right now that you’re done with that.
Once your mind is made up, your priorities come into focus. Take money, for example. Almost everyone says they want to be better with their finances, but few actually put in the work. If you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, make a real plan. If you care about getting out of debt, make it a priority—cut your spending, look for ways to boost your income, and stick to it. That’s what changing your habits really looks like. You decide you want to be debt-free (mindset shift), you start caring more about your future than impressing other people (priority shift), and then you put together a budget or pick up a side gig to make it happen (action shift).
I won’t pretend any of this is easy. But I know it’s possible. A few years ago, I was homeless. The next year, I owned my own home. Things can change, and so can you. If you’re ready to level up and want support or accountability, let’s connect. I’m still coaching and helping others for as long as I can, and I’d love to help you too. Book a Ready to Shift Strategy Session, and let’s make your next years your best ones yet.
