Seven B.S. thoughts that are sucking our energy

Lately, many of us have not been living. We have been managing. Checking boxes. Holding it together. Moving from one obligation to the next. I found that even when I consciously attempted to be present, I still was not overly excited about the moment or even the next event. I was existing. 

We wake up. We do the things. We go to bed. Repeat. 

Somewhere along the way, we slipped into constant go mode and forgot to honor the experience. I remember getting ready for an event and thinking, when did I stop getting excited? I’m just going from thing to thing. When everything feels urgent, *|FNAME|*, nothing feels safe, sacred, or special. 

So this January, instead of pushing harder or reinventing ourselves again, what if we gently pulled back? What if we released what has quietly been draining us and returned to what actually brings us home to ourselves? 

Here's your January invitation to release, remember, and step into what matters. 

This is a gentle release (no drama required!) 

This is not about forcing positivity or pretending things have been easy.
It is about lovingly putting down what no longer deserves our energy. 

This January, we can gently release these 7 B.S. thoughts that are sucking our energy! 

1. The pressure to stay upbeat when honesty is what heals. Listen, I am always going to be irritatingly positive, because I know our vibe creates our reality, but I will also be authentically me and have fits as needed. 

2. Carrying responsibility that was never ours. I observe many of you taking on other people’s stuff, from their obligations to emotions.  Let’s stop that for sure! 

3. Overexplaining ourselves to people who are not listening. I am so guilty of this. It’s obvious childhood “I’m not enough” trauma. I am ready to let this go! How about you? 

4. Constant scrolling that leaves us numb instead of nourished. Can we commit to this: More connection with our humans instead? 

5. The Timeline: Many of you believe that you should be further along than you are. Yikes! This “thought” will cause a lot of suffering. Let this one go. 

6. Hustling to prove our worth. I am so guilty of this one, too. Or better yet, “rest has to be earned” …Eww! 

7. Holding it together when what we really need is to scream and exhale. Let's scream if we need to, and cry it out (this may not fit the gentle theme, but if it's what's needed, we go for it!).

Nothing here requires fixing. Only releasing. Letting go is not quitting. Let’s choose to live lighter and make space for what matters. 

So how do we do this?! 

1. We slow down.

When I talk about slowing down, I am not talking about doing less or not getting the things done that need to be done. I am talking about returning to the small moments that quietly keep us connected to life...
The first sip of coffee or tea before the day pulls us forward.
A warm shower that cleanses our energy field and reminds us of who we are.
A shared laugh that surprises us.
A familiar voice that makes us feel steady.

Those moments when our shoulders soften without effort, and we realize we have been holding our breath. These things do not shout for our attention, yet they carry enormous frequency. Gratitude is not about pretending everything is wonderful or bypassing what is real. It is about allowing the ordinary to become sacred again. Self-Love is not indulgence. It is presence, and it gives us permission to actually be here for our lives. 

2. We name it:

We need a word to hold the year. 

Each year, I invite us to choose one word. Not a resolution. Not a checklist. Just one word that holds the energy of how we want to experience the year.

Last year, my word was Love. When I remembered it, I would do my best to soften with myself and others. I did my best to show up when things felt tender or uncertain.

This year, my word is READY. Ready to receive. Ready to trust myself. Ready to say yes when it is aligned and no when it is not. Ready to be present instead of being braced. Ready to let life meet me without forcing it. This word is not about doing more or pushing harder. It is about availability and stepping into whatever arises.

Allow your word to be honest. Let it feel steady. Let it feel kind. Let it feel true. 

3. Let the word meet the moment 

Once you have your word, allow it to gently guide your day-to-day choices. You do not need to analyze it or make it complicated. Simply notice. How would today feel if I moved from my word? What would alignment look like in this moment? What wants to be simpler right now?
This is how frequency shifts without force.
This is how we move from surviving to savoring.
Slowly. Honestly. One present moment at a time. 

4. We expand from Self to Sacred Community 

As we slow down enough to truly notice our own lives, something subtle begins to happen. We start to notice each other again and listen more fully. We gather with intention and create small moments that remind us we are not meant to do this alone. Thriving is rarely a solo act. It is built through shared intention, quiet rituals, meaningful pauses, and the simple act of being witnessed.

This is why, if you are feeling called to go a little deeper, the Water Fast can be a beautiful place to begin. This experience is not about deprivation or pushing the body. It is about alignment. It is about clearing what no longer serves, creating sacred connection, and listening more deeply to yourself and to life. If you are craving simplicity, presence, and clarity, consider this an invitation to meet yourself there. 

And so I offer you a simple practice for January.

There is no big assignment here and no pressure to get it right. Each day, simply notice one small thing you feel grateful for. Let it be ordinary. Let it be simple. Speak it out loud and allow yourself to actually feel it for a moment instead of rushing past it. Let it land in your body. Let it soften you. Then, gently ask yourself how your word wants to show up today. Not in a dramatic way, but in the smallest, most honest way possible. That question alone is enough to shift things. Truly. We are allowed to live again. Not when everything is figured out. Not someday. Now. 

With much love and a very deep breath, 

Dena 

P.S. You know I love to hear from you. If you feel like sharing, hit comment or send me an email with one of these:

My word for the year is ____________________ and it represents ____________________. 

One thing I am ready to release this year is ____________________. 

One small moment that felt sacred to me today was ____________________. 

Something simple that brings me back to myself is ____________________. 

We are building something quieter.
And far more powerful.