Momentum Shifts

Circling back around with the Lunar New Year, I have some more thoughts about how it is celebrated versus our traditional approach to the new year in America. Mainly because I’ve already fizzled on some of my original goals I set for myself at the beginning of 2026, I felt the Lunar New Year provided another opportunity to reset, but coming from a different point of view.

This article from Forbes really puts it nicely– we have lofty goals as we approach the new year, but sometimes those goals are TOO big and set us up for failure. It doesn’t take into consideration that things can change day to day, and we’re meant to be building a foundation for what we want to achieve…instead of jumping in head first, in a hardcore way. That skips the smaller, daily intentions, shifts of energy, challenges that are unforeseen, etc.

What if the power of intention was enough, even if not much was achieved? Even without a massive amount of action?  Doesn’t that count for something? 

Because this year is the year of the yang fire horse, the energy is BIG and everyone thinks your actions have to match. But what about the yin, opposite, water…what satiates, quells and sustains the horse from burning out? 

Instead of setting huge goals that feel almost impossible to achieve, there are micro-changes that count towards who you want to become. When you can prove it to yourself in tiny, repeatable ways, the repetition becomes evidence. Then the evidence becomes identity. Identity sustains behavior. 

If we can improve by 1% daily, then by the end of the year there are some radical changes that have been implemented! This isn’t super exciting or can be viewed as boring. 

For me, it can look like this: 

My American New Year resolutions: 

1. Two-a-day high intensity workouts 

2. No sugar ever!! 

3. 5:30 am wake ups for productivity 

The new micro intentions can be reframed to read: 

1. I’m becoming someone who moves daily

2. I’m becoming someone who is more balanced

3. I’m becoming someone who sleeps well 

One is read as a threat and one is read as a new form of architecture. Instead of resistance, burnout, shame, and rebound (which I was experiencing with my current model), I’m learning to reframe and understand that sometimes you just need intention, not a crash course on demolishing yourself in pursuit of a goal. You’re designing the next version. 

Some of the small changes that still allow me to reach my goals, but leave room for fluctuations of daily life include: 

1. I choose to move, so some days it will be a 30 minute walk and sometimes it will be a high intensity exercise. It can depend on the day! But there’s no shame for the slower times.

2. Finding balance with sugar. I’m not beating myself up for having cake for my son’s birthday, but I can avoid sugar on the days that aren’t special. 

3. Instead of shooting for a 5 am wake up, the goal is to get in bed sooner and ensure I’m rested WELL. If that turns into an early wake up for more productivity, then great! If not, I got more sleep. Something my body probably needed.

Think of this mentality as the “compounding model” to the rebuilding of your goals, whatever they might be. It may look slow after 30 days, but in 6 months, the little micro-choices towards progress will be the only thing still standing. We are not wired for hard-fast-intensity. 

What are the ways you can reframe your goals and intentions? I hope the Lunar New Year inspired you to reset, again, as the year has really kicked into gear.