The Sentence that Changed How I’m Ending the Year.

You don’t need a new year to start fresh—you may just need one quiet, courageous “I’m done.”

Over the past two days, two completely unrelated people—who don’t know each other at all—said almost the exact same sentence to me.

About two different situations.

In two different conversations.

“I’m not taking that into 2026.”

And it stopped me in my tracks.

Because it wasn’t said with frustration or hustle…It was said with clarity, peace, and a little bit of holy relief.

When the second person said it, I felt something inside me unclench. Almost like my shoulders dropped. I realized I’ve also been carrying something I don’t want to drag into 2026.

It made me rethink the way we usually talk about this time of year.

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We’re Already Looking Toward the New Year… But What About Right Now?

This is the season when everyone starts talking about next year’s goals, next year’s plans, next year’s habits, next year’s intentions.

And that’s good. Hope is good. Fresh starts are good.

But here’s what struck me:

We still have a couple of weeks left in this year—and that’s plenty of time to set down something we don’t want to carry forward.

Not in a “finish strong,” “push harder,” or “do all the things” way.

More like…

What freedom could you give yourself before 2026 arrives?

What burden could you quietly put down?

What story, habit, expectation, or resentment has simply run its course?

Sometimes the most powerful way to enter a new year isn’t by adding something—but by releasing something.

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A Mindset Shift: End-of-Year as a Window of Freedom

Here are a few gentle prompts to let your mind settle into this idea:

• Is there a conversation you’ve been avoiding that could clear space in your heart?

• A tiny responsibility you can close out so it stops stealing mental energy?

• A belief, expectation, or pressure you’re simply done hauling around?

• An unfinished task that would take 10 minutes but has lived rent-free in your mind for months?

• A habit that doesn’t serve your well-being, mindset, or walk with God anymore?

  
  

This isn’t about making yourself “improve.”It’s about giving yourself permission to breathe as you step into a new season.

You’re not tying a bow on the year—you’re loosening the knots.

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The Question I’m Sitting With (and You Can, Too)

“What am I done with that I can take care of before welcoming 2026?”

Not to earn anything.

Not to prove anything.

Not to impress anyone.

Imagine stepping into January feeling lighter—clear, unburdened, and aligned. Not because you pushed harder, but because you released what wasn’t yours to carry.

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Your Turn

If something came to mind while you were reading, that’s worth paying attention to. God often whispers clarity before we officially ask for it.

What are you ready to lay down?

What freedom can you embrace before the new year begins?

If you feel comfortable, share one thing you’re releasing before 2026. Your clarity might be exactly what someone else needs today.

If this post resonated with you, please consider sharing it to spread the word. It might be of use to someone you know.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, click HERE to book a chat with me, or follow me on Facebook @Nourishing Body & Soul or on Instagram @tlastle.nourishingbodyandsoul