Early February feels like a bit of a hinge moment doesn’t it. The year has started moving, but it’s not yet running away with us.
Which makes it a good time to check in, how’s it all going?
My word for 2026 is Joy with Intent. So I did a bit of an audit to see if this was still aligned.
Here’s what I noticed:
The joy part has been strong which has been helped by planning it early, which included a 3 day conference in Jan and a holiday (which I am on as this email goes out!)
There has been time with friends and family, new conversations and new clients.
And that’s mattered more than I expected, because January and February have carried a bit of heaviness too, family stuff and real life things that didn’t announce themselves in advance.
Joy hasn’t erased those moments, but it’s softened the edges. It’s helped to carry me through on the exhausted, dark rainy days where nothing seems to go right!
Joy has looked surprisingly simple:
Sauna sessions to quiet my busy mind
Working alongside a friend at a cafe
Having a mix on my decks
Running (still shocked by this one, I started 1st week Jan and am still going!)
Watching Stranger Things with my kids (yes I am very late to the party!)
Choosing environments that regulate rather than drain
On the intent side, work has felt good.
I’ve stayed anchored in the corporate space, taken on some stretching projects, and at the same time, I’ve had a flurry of 1:1 speaker and TED clients. That work lights me up from the inside. It reminds me why I do what I do.
Stories in Our DNA (season 2 of my podcast) is nearly finished. One more episode to record, then editing and then launching. It’s been a joy to make. I’ve had intriguing conversations, solo reflections and it’s been curiosity led creation rather than content for content’s sake.
And I’ve felt tired. But I’ve also been looking after myself. Which is so important in the pursuit of joy.
So if you chose a word, a theme, or a quiet intention for this year, here’s a few prompts:
- Where has your word already shown up, even in small ways?
- Where might it need a little more space to breathe?
- What would it look like to support it rather than force it?
You’re allowed to check in early, or adjust or tweak or even change it.
A guiding word is your north star, not a rule book.
And north stars still work when you take a moment to re-orient.
How is your word for the year going? Shoot me a DM on socials or email me hello@helenpackham.com I’d love to hear.
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