(and what to do instead)

It’s mid-January as I’m writing this, and I want to ask you something honestly.

Did you set New Year’s resolutions?

And if you did… did they look great on paper, but feel wrong in your body?

Maybe there was a tightness.
A quiet dread.
A subtle resistance you couldn’t quite explain.

If that’s you, I want you to hear this first: you’re not broken. You’re not lazy. You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re just skipping a step.

Sensitive bodies don’t run on deadlines — they run on cycles

If you’re someone who feels everything — stress, environments, emotions, timing — your body responds to cycles. Always has.

Science shows us that sensitive nervous systems process information faster and deeper. And long before science caught up, ancient wisdom knew this too: the body speaks first.

January isn’t a pushing month for sensitive bodies. It’s a listening month.

When we jump straight into resolutions before the body is ready, motivation collapses and shame creeps in. And then we start asking the wrong questions — What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stick with this?

Nothing is wrong with you. The timing is off.

Intention comes before resolution

An intention isn’t a weaker goal. It’s a different orientation.

Intentions create space.
They invite awareness.
They help you notice patterns instead of overriding them.

An intention asks:

• How do I want to relate to this season?

• What quality do I want to embody right now?

Intentions are rooted in feeling. And when you set an intention, your nervous system feels safer. Your body knows you’re listening.

Some intentions might sound like:

• I intend to move with steadiness.

• I intend to honor my sensitivity.

• I intend to create without urgency.

If it feels heavy, demanding, or pressure-filled, it’s not an intention — it’s a goal pretending to be one.

When goals ignore the body, the body pushes back

I learned this the hard way.

Back in January of 2020, I set a very clear goal: qualify for a powerlifting world championship meet. That meant lifting over 775 pounds total. I was disciplined. I was trained. I was all in.

On meet day, during warm-ups, I tweaked my back. My coach told me I was done for the day.

But I had already set the goal.

So I ignored my body. I lifted anyway. I pushed through pain, adrenaline, and warning signs. I finished the meet — and the next day, I couldn’t walk.

What followed was four years away from lifting at a high level. Four years of recovery. And ironically, the competition itself didn’t even matter. The world shut down shortly after.

That experience showed me the difference between forcing a goal and leading with intention.

How intention changes everything

This year, I returned to powerlifting with a very different approach.

My intention for my first meet isn’t to podium.
It isn’t to hit a specific number.

My intention is simple: put my feet on the stage.

That’s it.

That intention still requires structure and preparation, but it doesn’t override my body. It works with it. There’s no inner warfare. No forcing.

Goals demand capacity. Intentions ask for honesty.

The January–February–March bridge

If you live cyclically, here’s how the first quarter actually works:

January: Intention

January is for listening, dreaming, and noticing patterns. It’s research time. You don’t need answers yet.

Ask yourself:

• What themes from last year want to continue?

• What patterns are ready to be released?

• What feels nourishing instead of impressive?

Let it be simple. One word is enough.

February: Structure

February is the bridge. This is where you ask, How could this intention take form?

You refine. You build support. You clarify boundaries. You don’t rush.

March: Execution

March is when action feels ready. When movement feels like flow instead of pressure. When effort feels supported.

That’s the difference between readiness and force.

When you stop fighting your body

When you stop fighting your body, it starts working with you.

January isn’t asking you to do more.
It’s asking you to listen better.

So choose an intention. Let February shape it. Let March move it.

And if you’ve struggled with New Year’s resolutions year after year, please hear this clearly: your body isn’t the problem. It’s been trying to guide you this whole time.

If you want support learning how to listen more deeply, you can explore sessions and resources at bodywhisperhealing.com/services. You don’t have to do this alone.

I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Allergies, and Asthma. I felt like a mess and I was depressed.

My playing time was constantly at stake. I was mostly on the bench. My grades were suffering because I struggled to make it to class. I had given up on this being my dream anymore. I was on the brink of giving up on life. It was dark in my head.

Several events made me realize I wasn’t in the right place. But those events had to become very “extreme” for me to see the signs and do what I needed for my mental wellbeing.

I quit the team. Then I quit this school. 

I took a year off from softball to get a mental break and do a lot of testing to figure out what was really going on because an IBS diagnosis isn’t a complete answer. And I wanted off all the drugs they put me on. 

I ended up going to another school and playing softball again. I found a much healthier way to live and do all the things I love. 

Now I’m off all those medications. I take some supplements on and off to help when stuff gets out of whack. But I’m able to play the sports I love and live a very normal life again. 

If this is where you’d like to be, let’s connect! I can help you get on the road to recovery, playing again, and going to classes without pain and fear that you’ll miss something to run to the bathroom.