New Year Health Reflection: A Nourishing Way to Begin the Year

New Year Health Reflection: From Resolutions to Revelation —A Nourishing Way to Begin the Year

The beginning of a new year often comes with a lot of noise.

Set your goals.
Fix what’s broken.
Do better this time.

Even when we don’t consciously buy into it, that message hums beneath the surface—creating pressure before we’ve even crossed the threshold.

But what if this year began differently?

What if, instead of rushing to leap forward, we chose to listen first?

Today, we’re standing right at the edge between what has been and the invitation into what will be. This is a holy moment. A pause before movement. A breath before the next step.

And the reminder I keep coming back to is simple:

Listen before you leap.

Nothing needs to be decided yet.

Listening Instead of Rushing

In NOURISH, we believe lasting change doesn’t come from forcing outcomes.
It comes from paying attention, staying curious, and responding wisely to what we notice.

The new year is not an invitation to overhaul your life.
It’s an invitation to listen.

Instead of rushing into answers, I’ve been sitting with this question:

Who is God calling me to be, and what does loving care for the body, mind, and spirit He’s given me look like right now?

Not next month.
Not by the end of the year.
Right now.

This question doesn’t demand clarity.
It invites presence.

And presence is where transformation actually begins.

Surrender, Simplify, Nourish — A Way of Living

Scripture gently leads us into this rhythm:

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
“Come to Me…and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107:9)

Together, these verses offer a way to navigate life. One that begins with surrender, makes room through simplicity, and responds with nourishment.

Surrender often comes first, whether we choose it or not. It’s the moment we stop pushing for answers and allow ourselves to be still. Stillness can feel uncomfortable, not because we don’t want to hear God, but because quiet often reveals what we’ve been carrying. Surrender isn’t giving up; it’s letting go of the need to control the outcome. It’s allowing God to be God and ourselves to rest as His daughters.

As we surrender, we begin to notice what feels heavy, which naturally leads us to simplify. Simplifying isn’t about doing less for the sake of doing less. It’s about laying down what was never meant to be carried all at once. Jesus’ invitation to rest reminds us that peace doesn’t come from adding more effort, but from releasing what weighs us down. When we simplify, our breath deepens. Our nervous system settles. Our body feels safer. And when the body feels safe, we can finally hear God, ourselves, and what truly matters.

From that quieter, steadier place, we can NOURISH. Nourishment is not about discipline or perfection; it’s about love. It’s how we tend to the life God has entrusted to us, body, mind, and spirit. Sometimes nourishment looks like rest. Sometimes it looks like regular meals, gentle movement, prayer, boundaries, or asking for support. Often, it’s found in very small, ordinary choices made with compassion.

This is not about fixing what’s broken.
It’s about caring for what is already sacred.

This is the heart of NOURISH.

A Learner’s Mindset, Not a Perfect Plan

Health does require planning, meals don’t happen by accident, and rhythms don’t form without intention. Preparing food, thinking ahead about movement, and creating supportive structure are all part of caring for ourselves well.

But nourishment isn’t found in rigid plans or fixed outcomes.

It’s found when we prepare thoughtfully and remain open to listening, adjusting, and responding to what our bodies and lives are telling us in the moment.

Our bodies constantly communicate through the biofeedback markers of stress, sleep, mood, hunger, energy, and cravings. When we approach health with a learner’s mindset, we stop demanding certainty and start asking better questions. When we ask better questions and listen, we recognize what our bodies are telling us through biofeedback. Only then can we respond with the nourishment our bodies truly need.

Curiosity creates space.
Questions invite wisdom.
Listening leads to clarity.

This is where true nourishment begins.

Looking Back With Wisdom (Not Judgment)

Before looking ahead, it helps to look back—gently.

Not to critique.
Not to rehash failures.
But to gather insight.

As one year closes and another begins, you might reflect:

• What supported my health and well-being this past year?
• When did I feel most grounded, energized, or at peace?
• What patterns did I begin to notice—physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
• What felt heavy, draining, or unsustainable?
  

There are no right or wrong answers here.
Only information.

Awareness is a gift. It gives you something solid to stand on as you move forward.

Carrying Forward What Nourishes

Not everything from last year needs to be left behind.

Often, there are small practices, rhythms, or insights that worked—even in a hard season.

You might notice:

• Habits that felt nourishing
• Ways your body responded well to rest, food, or movement
• practices that helped you stay connected—to yourself, to others, to God
  

These aren’t goals to perfect.
They’re anchors to carry forward.

Listening Before We Leap

As this new year begins, I’m not asking myself to choose goals or make declarations.

I’m listening.

And if I don’t hear anything yet, I’m still listening.

Sometimes a word surfaces. Sometimes clarity comes. Sometimes it doesn’t—and that’s okay too. Listening itself is the practice.

There will be time to reflect more intentionally. Time to look back and time to look ahead. But not everything needs to be decided in these first days of January.

For now, this is the invitation:

To surrender what’s loud.
To simplify what’s heavy.
To nourish the life God has entrusted to you.

And to trust that clarity comes—not from striving—but from staying present long enough to receive.

A NOURISH Intention for the Year Ahead

As you step into this new year, you might hold this simple intention:

I will pay attention.
I will ask questions.
I will respond with wisdom and grace.

This approach honors your body as something to steward, not conquer.
It honors your health as a journey, not a destination.
It invites God into your health journey as your guide.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You need to stay present and willing to listen.

That is where true nourishment begins.

Health, blessings & happy New Year!

Ann

About The Author: Ann Hackman is a Certified Health Coach (IIN) and NASM Personal Trainer with advanced training in hormone health and metabolism. She’s the creator of NOURISH, a faith-based, science-backed health coaching program that helps women restore energy, balance hormones, and feel at home in their bodies again.