Overwhelm in January

January often feels like a fresh canvas, a chance to sketch the outlines of the person we wish to become. But for many, the weight of resolutions can become heavy, and by February, maybe too ambitious. As we strive to measure up to an idealised vision, we might lose touch with the wisdom that we already hold from the year before.

Sometimes the rush to set goals can be driven by unconscious needs—perhaps to please an internalised voice of authority or to quell deeper anxieties about self-worth. The pressure to transform immediately might echo unresolved conflicts, where striving was often valued over being.

However, I try to remind myself that growth unfolds naturally when conditions are right. Instead of wrestling with goals, what if we softened into the moment? What if we trusted that our potential—like a seed—knows when to sprout? Carl Rogers would encourage us to listen deeply, to hear the quiet whispers beneath our plans.

This January, instead of forcing change, practice holding space for yourself. Ask, What do I need, not what do I think I should need? Even if this evokes an energy or only an intention, perhaps it can move us from a place of overwhelm to an inner compassion.