Lately, I’ve been paying attention to people who seem to find calm—not perfectly, not permanently, but intentionally.
Not people who have it all figured out.
People who are actively choosing it.
They still have trials and tribulations in their own lives but are intentionally managing their responses to them. And no, it’s not easy—but looking for and choosing calm rarely is.
They commit to enjoying the simple things without dismissing their real problems. So they don’t spiral over what they can’t fix single-handedly.
And that means they move through life with a little more caution, slower, even—not because they don’t care, but because they do.
And I’ve realized I don’t need to become someone new to experience that. I can just borrow what works from them.
Are you claiming your life on purpose in 2026 and beyond?
This year, my word is CLAIM.
And my mantra is: “In 2026, I’m going to continue actively enjoying my life.”
Heavy on the actively.
Because enjoyment rarely seems to ever just happen. More often it’s pursued and chosen.
- It’s thinking before reacting.
- Pausing until it’s right, or feels right.
- Planning on purpose.
- Scheduling rest the same way I schedule trips.
- Being hopeful about the future—wherever it ends up.
Think: Moving forward slowly
With appreciation for what you’ve already built and gratitude for what’s still unfolding.
Less pressure.
More abundance.
Fewer self-assigned obligations.
And for me, this all feels connected to what I shared earlier about this being a season of unlearning—releasing the habits that keep me busy and disconnected, and returning to the ones that help me actually enjoy life.
