5 Steps to Starting the New Year with Intention & Success

Welcome to 2026!

There's always so much hype around this time of year. New year means new beginnings, new years resolutions, new you...right? It's all so exciting. The thought of the possibilities and the potential that lie ahead. This is the year your dreams will become a reality!

It's great to set goals and to dream about a brighter future. That's what we're supposed to do. But what do we do once we've set the goals?

Did you know that about 80% of people who set New Year resolutions abandon them by February and only around 10% of people actually achieve their goals by the end of the year? Statistically speaking, our odds don't look good when it comes to hitting the mark.

I want to help you be a part of the few who make it. Follow me through these 5 steps to set intentions for 2026 aligned with where the Holy Spirit is guiding you. I also included a bonus tip at the end for you. (Just because I love you and want nothing but success for you!)

1. Reflection

It can be really easy to get caught up in the excitement of the new year and the things you want to accomplish. In order for us to fully step into our purpose, we must first do some reflecting on our past year. Some may say that doesn't make sense; you can't see where you're going while looking in the rear view mirror. While that is accurate, we want to assess where we have been, what we have accomplished, and look for things the Lord may be trying to reveal to us. We need to leave things in 2025 that we aren’t meant to continue carrying. In order to determine what those things are, we have to do some investigating. By doing this, it will give us a solid starting point for areas of opportunity and growth as well as indicators that we’re doing what God is calling us to do.

Take some time to pray and journal your answers to these questions. Think about your spiritual self, your personal life, as well as your professional life.

• What has God brought me to the end of?

  • What things in your life are no longer serving a purpose? What seems to be “stale?” Maybe there are relationships that are exhausting. Maybe it's time for a career change... Let the Holy Spirit guide you.

• What is God encouraging?

  • What seems to be coming back to you no matter how much you push it away? Where do things seem to be flourishing? Maybe it's a talent you have that blesses other people. Maybe it's a personality trait that God wants to refine. This question may not provoke all positive feelings. For me, God showed me personality traits I need to focus on developing.

2. Examine the Patterns

The things you don't acknowledge and address, will be the things that frustrate and hinder you. We all live in patterns. Even those who are spontaneous with their plans, operate out of patterns. Patterns will reveal priorities you have, things you're avoiding, and anything that is an active enemy in your path. God will reveal what He insists upon through patterns and the devil will exploit through patterns. If you don't identify the pattern and address it, it will continue to hinder you. It's also important to examine the patterns of your successes in order to continue a positive trajectory.

Take some time to pray and journal your answers to these questions.

• What things did I set out to accomplish but didn't?

  • Maybe you set a goal and never finished it. Maybe you planned to start that business, but it never got past the 'idea' phase.

• What areas did I plan to work on and develop?

  • Maybe you wanted to work on that anger issue, maybe you have a bad habit and you wanted to break it. 

• What things did I make progress on or achieve?

  • Even if you didn't make it to your exact goal, maybe you got close.

It could be that your focus is too divided and you're trying to do too many things at one time. That is definitely a possibility - I’ve been there and still struggle with it from time to time. If that's the case, it can be extremely difficult to complete or finish even one thing. You may need to narrow down the priorities.

Now I am aware that sometimes there are disorders that can hinder focus. If that applies to you, what are you doing to address that? Vitamins, planners, timers, calendar events? When dealing with a disorder, you need to determine what works best for you to keep you on track, if you want to achieve your goals. Set yourself up for success.

3. Identify the Primary Enemy

After looking at all the patterns from the previous year, try to identify a common denominator when possible. Where do you seem to always get stuck? Maybe you have distractions posed as opportunities. Many times fear can disguise itself as wisdom. This shows up as doubt and second guessing. You're never really able to make a decision because you're stuck in the what-ifs. Compromise can show up as balance. You might claim you're too mature and you're beyond that, but that's merely fatigue. What excuses do you seem to make?

What you fail to name and identify - you will normalize and continue the cycle.

4. Ask God for Your Governing Word

Take some time with God to discover His word for the season you're in. My word for last year was resonance. When I discovered my word of the season, I was able to better focus my efforts to align with God. The word God gives you will act as your guiding light. 

• Psalm 119

• Psalm 105

This word will help you decide whether or not something is for you or not. When you are distracted, your accuracy will be off. The goal is to maintain alignment with that word because if you're in alignment with the word God gave you, you will be in alignment with Him. If everything feels equally important to you, you likely don't have a word to guide you.

5. Set Up Boundaries & Accountability

Once you have the direction you need to go, it's your responsibility to guard what God has given you. You do that by setting boundaries. The boundaries I'm referring to are the boundaries to protect the direction you are moving in. Think of the boundaries like a fence around your cattle. It keeps the herd where it needs to be and keeps the predators out. There's also a gate to allow helpers in to assist with the herd when necessary. Your boundaries protect your mission and your focus. Don't allow distractions to take from what God has given you.

Finding someone to help you with your herd can be a difficult task. You need someone you can trust; someone who will help you move forward.

How do you know you found the right person for the job? Ask yourself these questions.

• Who will confront me when I stray from my path?

• Who can apply pressure to me and I won't be offended?

It's important to note that you don't need to have a direct connection with this person. When I say this I mean you don't need to physically see them or spend time with them. You merely need to have a way to communicate with each other. In order for this to work, you have to make the choice to submit to accountability. It's an active choice, not a feeling. Wake up every day choosing to be accountable.

These all go hand-in-hand with goals you may set for the year. Intention is a wonderful thing, but without the proper tools to sustain your excitement and momentum, you won't make it very far. 

God has big plans for 2026. Each of us has a key role and it's our duty to discover which direction He wants us to go.

Fall into the alignment. Don't push against it.

We as humans want to help everyone. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to do so. What we can't do, God has covered. As long as we're operating in the Spirit like we should be, everyone will indeed be helped. That's why going through these steps is important. Doing this exercise will help you maintain focus where you need to, so you can avoid unnecessary frustration and burn out. 

God has His job covered. Keep your focus on your path and what He delivers into it.

I’m so excited to see what this year has in store! I wish you many blessings and all the joy! Here’s that bonus tip I promised.

-Leanne

XOXO

BONUS TIP

Look at the goals you have set. Are they in alignment with the governing word God gave you? Take some time with God and allow yourself to be brutally honest with yourself about the motive and intention behind your plans.

• Is it requiring me to stretch my faith or is it driven by my need for validation?

• Is it demanding sacrifice or is it building my ego?

Dear Lord,

Thank you for another year full of blessings and growth. I am grateful for the opportunity of another one. Please help me maintain alignment with you as I navigate my day-to-day life. I want my choices and my actions to glorify you in all that I do. I love you and I praise you.

In Jesus' name. Amen.