The power of small beginnings

Let’s start with a confession: I love January. There is something quietly magical about it — the pale winter light, crisp mornings, and that sense of stillness in the air. It feels like a pause, a breath, a moment where the world hasn’t quite rushed back into full swing yet.

What I don’t love is the noise.

The constant pressure to change your life, set big goals, overhaul your habits, lose weight, go to the gym every day, achieve more, be better, do more — it all starts with a sense of lack and not being "good enough" and do it all by the end of the month. Most of these resolutions don’t even make it past January, and honestly, that’s not a failure. It’s a sign that something about this approach doesn’t sit naturally with us.

When I look outside, the natural world tells a very different story.

The trees have shed their leaves and are resting. Animals have slowed down or gone into hibernation. Plants are tucked away beneath the earth, waiting patiently for warmth and light. Nothing in nature is rushing or striving right now — yet we, as humans, tell ourselves that this is the moment to push harder than ever. It feels completely at odds with the season.

Softening the Way We Begin

Now, don’t get me wrong — I care deeply about health. Living in a way that supports my physical and mental wellbeing is central to my life and my work. Movement, nourishment, fresh air, connection — these things matter.

But for me, it’s never been about extremes or rigid rules. It’s about how I do them.

• Do I move my body with kindness or punishment?

• Do I eat in a way that supports my energy or responds to guilt?

• Do I listen to what I need, or follow what I think I should be doing?

That’s where balance comes in.

January doesn’t need big declarations or dramatic transformations. It can be a time for small beginnings — gentle, intentional steps that feel aligned with who you are and the season you’re in.

Building Resilience from the Ground Up

Resilience isn’t built through force or pressure. It’s built quietly, over time, through small, consistent acts of self-care and self-trust.

I build my resilience by noticing what I need in each moment:

• Some days that looks like movement and energy.

• Other days it looks like rest, warmth, and doing less.

• Sometimes it’s saying yes.

• Often, it’s learning to say no.

  
  

This ongoing practice of checking in with myself — rather than pushing through — strengthens my sense of self from the ground up. It helps me feel anchored, steady, and more able to meet life when things feel challenging. Resilience doesn’t come from having everything figured out. It comes from knowing how to respond to yourself with compassion.

A Different Way to Begin the Year

So instead of asking “What should I change about myself?” this January, you might try asking:

• What do I need more of right now?

• What feels supportive, not demanding?

• What small habit would gently nourish me this season?

  
  

Small beginnings matter. They are sustainable. They grow quietly beneath the surface, just like the seeds waiting in the soil. And when spring arrives, they’ll be ready. You don’t need a big resolution. You don’t need to reinvent yourself. You just need to begin where you are — with kindness, patience, and trust.

Gentle Reflection: Beginning Where You Are

Before rushing into plans or promises, I invite you to pause for a moment.

Take a slow breath and ask yourself:

• What feels heavy for me right now?

• What feels nourishing?

• What would a small, kind step look like — not a big goal, just a beginning?

  
  

There is no right answer. This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about listening.

You might even write one sentence in a notebook or on your phone: “Right now, what I need most is........…” Let that be enough for today.

What Small Beginnings Can Look Like

Small beginnings don’t need to be dramatic to be powerful. In fact, the quieter they are, the more likely they are to last. They might look like:

• Stepping outside for five minutes of daylight on a winter morning.

• Swapping “all or nothing” exercise for gentle movement when your body asks for it.

• Drinking an extra glass of water rather than changing everything at once.

• Going to bed ten minutes earlier instead of promising an early night every day.

• Pausing to breathe before replying to an email that feels triggering.

• Choosing warmth, rest, and nourishment over guilt and pressure.

These small acts build trust with yourself. Over time, they create resilience — not through effort, but through care

Bringing Small Beginnings into the Workplace

This approach matters just as much at work as it does at home.

January in the workplace often comes with renewed pressure — targets, productivity, “hitting the ground running.” But people are still emerging from winter, from the emotional weight of the festive season, and from everything they’re carrying personally.

Small beginnings at work might look like:

• Realistic expectations rather than immediate intensity.

• Encouraging breaks, daylight walks, and flexible working where possible.

• Normalising conversations about capacity and energy.

• Leaders modelling rest, boundaries, and self-compassion.

• Focusing on connection and wellbeing before performance.

  
  

When workplaces allow people to build gently, resilience grows naturally. People feel safer, more engaged, and more able to contribute in meaningful ways.

A Kinder Way Forward

January doesn’t need to be about striving or becoming someone new. It can be about remembering who you already are and choosing to care for yourself in small, consistent ways.

Resilience is built from the ground up — through noticing, responding, and beginning again with kindness.

That is more than enough and the real power of January.