#425 - Monday Motivation: “What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”

 

Welcome to another short but empowering episode of Monday Motivation, giving you a dose of inspiration as you head into your week.

Today, we explore the powerful truth that the way your year unfolds depends on the energy, intention and commitment you bring into it, inspired by a quote from Vern McLellan:

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.”

Here are three key takeaways you can expect:

1. Why intention matters more than having the perfect plan at the start of a new year

2. How small, consistent steps create momentum without overwhelm

3. A simple way to reflect, dream and plan so the year ahead feels aligned and truly yours

Take this opportunity to learn how to step into a new year with clarity, confidence and calm rather than pressure or perfection.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonated most with you - so please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

…and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Kristina

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

P.S. If you’re ready for guided support to make 2026 brilliant for you, explore Dream Life Coaching here: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/course 💛

SHOW NOTES:

• Stop, Start, Continue - free workbook here
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Follow Kristina on Insta and TikTok
• If you feel it's time to take a leap and invest in you, join:
  • My Platinum Coaching Program where in January our focus will be on Plan Your Year 2026. Laying the foundation with clarity, vision, and intentionality. Learn more here.  
    
  • My Dream Business Book Club here. In January, we'll be reading and learning from: Building a Story Brand 2.0, by Donald Miller. Learn how to clarify your message, and genuinely stand out. 
  • My online personal Growth Book Club GROW, January, where we'll be reading and squeezing the learnings out of The Five-Year Crusade: The Easy Way to Achieve Your Impossible Goals, by John Soforic. Learning how to rest - the smartest life hack of all. Learn more here.

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPTION:

Hi there and welcome back to another Monday Motivation episode. And before we get started, a very happy new year.

There is something magical about the first Monday of a brand new year. A sense of freshness, possibility and a clean page waiting for you to write the next chapter of your dream life.

Today I want to start with a beautiful quote by Vern McLellan:

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”

Let that sink in for a moment, because it is true. A year does not transform us. We transform the year. The calendar does not create change. Your intentions, your dreams, your habits and your courage shape your life.

Let us take our first deep breath together for 2026. A slow inhale and a long, grounding exhale.

And let me ask you a gentle question. What are you bringing into this year? What energy, dreams, clarity and commitment to yourself are you choosing?

If you are anything like me, you may feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. A desire for change, paired with the quiet question of where to begin.

Here is the beautiful truth. You do not need the whole plan today. You simply need to show up with intention and take the next small step.

I have learned through building dreams from scratch, and rebuilding when life fell apart, that extraordinary years are not created because everything is perfect. They are created because you keep choosing to show up, one small step at a time.

As always, this is about progress, not perfection. That is true in 2026 as it has always been.

This time of year invites us to pause, reflect, dream, plan and then move forward with intention. Inside Dream Life Coaching, we start by gently looking back. We celebrate wins, acknowledge challenges and notice what gave us energy and what depleted us.

Then we look forward. We imagine. We dream a little bigger than feels comfortable. Those sparks of excitement are clues.

Next, we turn dreams into simple, achievable steps. We plan the year, then the quarters, then the months and days. This removes overwhelm and brings everything within reach.

That is exactly what we are doing in our first Dream Life Coaching session for 2026 today. It is one of my favourite sessions of the year because I see what happens when people take time to plan their year with intention.

If your heart has been whispering that you are ready to fully step into your dream life this year, I would love to welcome you. It is a supportive space where we dream, plan and create momentum together.

Remember these words again. What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.

Imagine stepping into this year with a clear vision, a simple plan, weekly support and a community cheering you on.

You deserve a year that feels intentional, meaningful and aligned with who you want to become.

So today, ask yourself what you want to bring into this year. What is one small action you can take right now?

Your dream life is built in tiny, intentional steps. Starting today.