A Different Way to Enter the New Year
Recently, I wrote a very practical blog on how to lose 20 pounds
how to eat, and the actions that actually work. You can read that here.
That matters.
Execution matters.
But action without the right foundation is why most plans fall apart.
This isn’t about what to do.
It’s about the rooted mindset that determines whether you actually do it long enough for it to matter.
The Outcome Isn’t the Problem
Wanting to lose 20 pounds isn’t wrong.
The issue is how most people relate to the goal.
It usually sounds like this:
“Once I lose 20 pounds, then I’ll feel better.”
That framing quietly creates pressure, impatience, and an all-or-nothing relationship with progress.
And when life disrupts the plan, as it always does, momentum breaks.
Not because you’re undisciplined.
But because the goal was carrying too much emotional weight.
A Rooted Approach to Goals
A rooted approach doesn’t abandon outcomes.
It anchors them to a way of living.
Instead of obsessing over the finish line, you ask:
How do I want to show up day to day?
What kind of person naturally creates this result?
What behaviors feel aligned, not forced?
So:
Losing 20 pounds becomes moving your body most days
Fat loss becomes eating mostly whole foods consistently
Confidence becomes being okay with temporary discomfort
Same destination.
Different foundation.
Why This Matters More Than the Plan
You don’t live inside a goal.
You live inside your habits, beliefs, stress responses, and environment.
Two people can follow the same fat-loss plan:
One feels restricted and resentful
The other feels grounded and capable
Same actions.
Very different outcomes.
That difference is identity and mindset.
Hustle Isn’t the Missing Ingredient
Most people don’t fail because they need more intensity.
They struggle because:
stress is already high
expectations are rigid
motivation is being used as fuel
A rooted approach emphasizes:
consistency over perfection
direction over pressure
identity over willpower
This is how actions compound instead of collapse.
Goals Follow Values, Not the Other Way Around
Here’s the deeper truth:
Every goal exists to support a life you want to live.
When values aren’t clear, goals become brittle.
When values are clear, goals become flexible.
You don’t wake up motivated every day.
But you do wake up living by your principles, consciously or not.
That’s why values come first.
The Four Jobs That Shape Sustainable Change
Real change requires more than physical action.
You’re always managing four jobs:
Physical – movement, nutrition, recovery
Mental – beliefs, self-talk, focus
Emotional – stress tolerance, safety, patience
Environmental – routines, defaults, support
Most plans only address the physical.
A rooted approach addresses all four, so action becomes sustainable instead of forced.
This Isn’t Anti-Action. It Makes Action Stick.
If you read my “how to lose 20 pounds” blog, this is the context that makes those steps work.
Action without roots is fragile.
Roots without action go nowhere.
You need both.
A New Year Is a Compass Reset, Not a Pressure Cooker
As the New Year arrives, it doesn’t need more promises, pressure, or punishment.
What it offers, if you use it well, is a moment to reset direction.
Most people use January to demand outcomes from themselves.
A rooted approach uses it to clarify:
who you want to be
how you want to live
what principles guide your decisions when motivation fades
That’s what values and principles actually are:
a compass, not a finish line.
When values are clear:
decisions get simpler
setbacks feel less personal
consistency replaces intensity
You stop asking, “Am I doing enough?”
And start asking, “Is this aligned?”
From there, goals become tools, not judgments.
Start the Year With Direction, Not Force
If you want this year to feel different, not just start different, I put together a short PDF to help you:
clarify your core values
define personal principles you can actually live by
understand how the four human jobs shape sustainable change
Use it as your compass for the year ahead.
[Download the Values & Principles PDF here]
No pressure.
No resolution hype.
Just a steadier way forward.
PS I have limited space for new clients in 2026. Starting next week, I will be increasing prices for the first time in 5 years for new clients. So if you've been on the fence, this is your sign to reach out. Lets connect and work towards making 2026 your best year yet!
