If setting New Year’s resolutions feels more exhausting than motivating, this episode is your permission to try something different.

In this episode of Lead Like a Girl, Jamie, Coralyn, and Jessica explore a more grounded, sustainable approach to growth—one that focuses on personal mantras, intentional themes, habit stacking, and seasonal check-ins instead of rigid resolutions. We talk honestly about why traditional goal-setting often falls apart and what actually supports real change in busy, real-life seasons.

This conversation is for anyone who wants to grow without burning out and believes progress can be thoughtful, flexible, and deeply personal.

Key Takeaways
Mantras create clarity and focus without pressure
Growth doesn’t have to start on January 1 and can begin anytime
Habit stacking helps new behaviors stick by building on what already exists
Seasonal goals allow for reflection, flexibility, and recalibration
There is a difference between what you’re paid to do and what you’re made to do
Choosing a word or theme for the year can guide daily decisions
Accountability strengthens follow-through without shame
Behavior-based goals lead to more sustainable change
Reflection is a critical part of meaningful growth
Small, consistent shifts create long-term impact

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Busy Lives
01:16 New Year, New Goals
03:48 Personal Mantras and Intentions
06:42 Goals vs. Resolutions
09:21 Alternative Goal-Setting Styles
12:09 Theme-Based Goals and Reflection
17:36 Choosing a Word or Theme for the Year
26:58 Habit Stacking for Real Life
32:04 Seasonal Goals and Accountability
33:57 Personal Themes for Growth