What I’m Carrying Forward - 2026 Edition

Welcome to 2026! 

I am so thankful to be here - with you. We made it!

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Going forward, this will be part of my yearly reflection series- an intentional pause to look back at the year that shaped me, acknowledge what it taught me, and decide what I’m carrying forward into the next one.

In the final days of 2025, I spent a lot of time on Instagram, scrolling through posts, reels, and carousels. I found many of them to be inspirational, comforting, and sometimes just goofy. One phrase kept showing up: “2025 stretched me.”

By the time I saw the tenth person say it, I paused.

What was it about the year that made so many of us say the same thing? I say “us” because I felt the stretch too.

In fact, 2025 was more than a stretch. It redefined me. It humbled me. It disciplined me. It brought me to my knees. If that isn’t stretching, I’m not sure what is.

That stretching forced me to look inward and confront the truth about myself: my strengths, my shortcomings, what makes me unique, and what needs to change. Through that process, I came to an agreement with myself about what I am carrying into 2026, and the things I am leaving behind.

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In 2026, I will show up fully, every day, in every capacity. I will put my best foot forward without minimizing my abilities. I will maximize my gifts, monetize my skills, and work intentionally toward building a name for myself.

I will remain open to learning. The world is changing daily, and only those who stay aware and adaptable will thrive. The plan is not just to survive, but to grow.

I will embrace rest without guilt. I will take better care of my health, my well-being, my finances, and everything entrusted to me.

In 2026, I plan to create wealth and build platforms that help others find their wings and take off. I will attract all the beautiful things.

I will ignore the whispers of inferiority that tell me I am not good enough or urge me to shrink. If I am given space in a room, best believe that I will take my seat at the table and own it.

I am letting go of doubt. I refuse to be intimidated by people, circumstances, or perceived shortcomings. I will not be blind to my lapses, but I will work hard to make them better. I will give myself a chance to shine like the star that I am.

I will work with ease, grace, and strength, grounded in the consciousness of a child of the Most High God. This year, my anchor is clarity over confusion.

In 2026, I will be helped by God, the one who neither slumbers nor sleeps.

As you step into 2026, what lessons from last year are you carrying forward? 

This reflection is a reminder to myself- and you, of course!- that growth is not accidental. We choose what we carry, what we release, and how we show up next.

I am excited to show up with you every day in 2026!