As a new year begins, many people feel pressure to set resolutions — promises to change, improve, or finally “get it right.” While resolutions can be motivating for some, they often carry an unspoken message: I’m not enough as I am.
Intentions offer a different starting point.
Why Resolutions Can Feel Pressuring
Traditional resolutions often focus on fixing perceived shortcomings or achieving rigid outcomes. This can lead to self-criticism or feelings of failure when life doesn’t go according to plan. For adults navigating stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, or major life transitions, this pressure can feel overwhelming.
The Power of Intentions
Instead of asking “What should I change this year?”, intentions encourage reflection, self-compassion, and alignment with what truly matters. They are less about achieving specific results and more about how we want to be in our lives.
Questions to Guide Your Intentions
-
How do I want to relate to myself this year?
-
What support am I willing to receive?
-
What feels sustainable within the realities of my life?
These questions create space for flexibility, growth, and self-compassion — even when plans shift unexpectedly.
Self-Compassion and Sustainable Growth
Intentions are not about lowering standards or giving up on growth. Instead, they promote meaningful change that is rooted in self-compassion rather than pressure. Progress is rarely linear, and care for ourselves is not something we have to earn.
If you find yourself feeling behind, unmotivated, or unsure as the year begins, know this:
You don’t need to have everything figured out in January.
Growth can be slow. Healing can be quiet. And meaningful change often starts with how we treat ourselves along the way.
Support and Counselling
If this perspective resonates and you’re curious about support, I offer trauma-informed counselling and therapy for adults. Together, we can explore strategies for stress, anxiety, grief, and life transitions in a compassionate, sustainable way.
You’re welcome to view current availability and schedule a session with me by clicking the “Schedule With Annika” button on this site. I look forward to connecting with you.
—Annika
Annika Schaefer
Contact Me
