Stepping Into 2026: A New Year of Resilience and Intention

By Rose Degenhardt, MA, RCT, CCC

Founder & Clinical Director, Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc.

Posted: January 1, 2026

A Fresh Page

The start of a new year always feels like opening a fresh page in a journal. The ink of 2025 has dried—its joys, its sorrows, its lessons—and now we’re invited to step into 2026 with open hands and hearts.

For me, New Year’s isn’t about perfection or grand resolutions. It’s about reflection, resilience, and intention. It’s about pausing long enough to notice where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we’d like to go from here.

Looking Back to Move Forward

As I shared on Christmas Day, 2025 was a year of growth, challenges, and gratitude. There were professional milestones at Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc., family memories—including a trip together in December—and the quieter moments that reminded me of what truly matters: connection, presence, and love.

But it wasn’t a perfect year. There were stressors, transitions, and days that felt heavy. And yet, those moments shaped the resilience I carry into 2026. Every challenge we’ve survived is evidence that we can face what comes next.

Choosing Resilience in 2026

Resilience doesn’t mean avoiding hardship. It means trusting that we have the strength, tools, and support to meet whatever comes.

This year, I encourage you to think of resilience not as bouncing back to who you once were, but as growing forward into who you’re becoming. Every experience, whether joyful or painful, adds to your story, your wisdom, and your capacity to navigate life.

Setting Gentle Intentions

Instead of rigid resolutions, I invite you to set gentle intentions for 2026. Ask yourself:

• What do I need more of in my life this year?

• What do I need less of?

• Where can I choose presence over perfection?

• What values do I want to guide me into this next chapter?

For some, it may be about slowing down. For others, it’s about finding courage to start something new. For many, it’s about giving themselves permission to rest, to dream, or to heal.

Practices for Clarity and Calm

If you’re looking for practical ways to start the year with clarity, consider:

• Journaling: Write down three lessons from 2025 and three hopes for 2026.

• Mindfulness: Begin the year with 5 minutes of breathing, focusing on being fully present.

• Decluttering: Let go of one small thing—physical or emotional—that no longer serves you.

• Connection: Reach out to one person who brings positivity to your life.

Small steps create lasting change.

A Note of Gratitude

As I sit here on New Year’s Day, sipping tea and watching the glow of the Christmas tree fade into a new season, I am filled with gratitude—for my family, my clients, my community, and for each person who has trusted me with their story.

Thank you for walking with me through 2025. I look forward to all the ways we will grow, learn, and heal together in 2026.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, none of us know what this year will hold. But we can step into it with courage, clarity, and compassion. My wish for you in 2026 is that you find resilience when life feels hard, joy in unexpected places, and peace in knowing that your story matters.

Sign-Off

With hope and resilience for the year ahead,

Rose Degenhardt, MA, RCT, CCC

Founder & Clinical Director

Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc.