What I’m Carrying Into the New Year — And What I’m Finally Leaving Behind

#192 - What I’m Carrying Into the New Year — And What I’m Finally Leaving Behind New Year’s Eve has a funny way of making us feel like we should reinvent ourselves by midnight. New rules. New goals. New personality. Preferably someone who loves green juice and wakes up excited at 5 a.m. This episode is… not that. Instead, this is a pause. A breath. A moment to stand in the quiet space between what’s been and what’s coming—and ask a better question than “Who should I be next year?” In this reflective solo episode, I share what this past year taught me the long way around: that growth isn’t about striving harder, fixing more, or optimizing your way into worthiness. The most meaningful shifts often come from removing pressure, listening to your nervous system, and letting go of identities that no longer fit. We talk about discernment over urgency, why discomfort isn’t a problem to solve, how progress actually works (hint: it’s not linear), and what it looks like to move into a new year lighter—not because you did more, but because you carried less. No resolutions. No hustle. No performative “new you.” Just honesty, integration, and intentions that actually make room for real life. If you’ve felt tired of pushing, quietly proud of how much you’ve grown, or like you’re standing on the edge of something new—but slower and steadier than before—this episode is for you. In This Episode, We Explore: Why striving, optimizing, and “doing more” often block real healing The difference between urgency and discernment—and why it matters How listening to your nervous system builds real trust with yourself What to keep, what to release, and what doesn’t need to come with you Why intentions work better than resolutions (and how to choose yours) How progress actually unfolds—even when it feels messy or invisible Time Stamps 00:00 – Why this episode isn’t about goals, resolutions, or reinvention 02:00 – The quiet space between years—and why it matters 04:00 – When striving stops working (and what actually does) 06:30 – Discernment vs. urgency: learning to pause instead of react 10:00 – What I’m intentionally carrying into the new year 12:00 – What I’m finally leaving behind (and why discomfort isn’t failure) 15:00 – Intentions over resolutions—and how to choose yours 18:00 – Moving forward lighter, calmer, and more grounded Where to Find Me You can connect with me, explore programs, and see what I’m up to outside the podcast here: Website: https://lisasmithwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast 🔗 Resources & Links (As an existing Function Health member, this is a paid referral At No Extra Cost To You) Function Health (160+ lab tests chosen by top doctors): https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=ESMITH15&_saasquatch=ESMITH15 💥 Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.