In a world with an inundation of information, now often in short reels that pop up over and over and over again, we can experience immense overwhelm when we look at bettering ourselves.
Do we need that one morning routine? That additional supplement? That new product? That new way of thinking?
None of these is inherently bad. But sometimes they lead us to overcomplicate things. We lose trust in ourselves and our natural inclinations, and instead believe that health and wellness must come from outside.
So, for 2026, I’m working to push against that. My phrase for this year is healthy roots.
I want to drop back to the basics and pare down to the simplistics. Simple, intentional routines. Healthy, home-cooked meals. Family time. Time outside. Time without technology, soaking in the beauty of creation. Loving our home. Reading, writing, and being present.
Nothing flashy, nothing crazy, not much added. Just simple as-is being.
And through all of this, emotions will ride their ups and downs because they are supposed to. Gratitude helps us find value in all, but all includes both challenging and enjoyable emotions. I’ll lean into my internal locus of control, find hope in what I can change, and release pressure on myself about what I can’t.
Nothing flashy, nothing groundbreaking. Just simple as-is being.
This isn’t riddled with adrenaline rushes or a surge of dopamine hits, but it’s grounded in soul-felt, simple reality. And it’s often in these places, the pared back and simple, that I most clearly hear God. In all his glory, splendor, and majesty, right with me in the simple as-is being.
Now, what’s meant for me may not be meant for you. Perhaps you are in a year of growth, expansion, and additions. That’s okay, too. What I challenge you to do, no matter what direction you feel pulled in for the New Year, is push through the noise of the world – all of the flashy ads, the influencers, the inundation of information. Try to quiet the mind, and step down into the soul. That’s where I find God’s voice, beneath all the noise, with genuine compassion and heartfelt companionship. Sometimes God’s voice and my mind’s thoughts align, and other times they don’t. But it’s when I’ve worked to hear him that I’ve found I begin my year with an alignment and attunement that best sets the tone, no matter what direction he is pulling me in.
Warmly,
Kylie Larson, MA, LPC
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Find Kylie’s reading commendations by clicking here.
