Living Authentically in 2026

How has your year started? Have you had time to reflect on the last year? What served you well, what brought you joy, and what might you like to change? Many people use this time to set goals or form good intentions for the new year. We may want to lose weight, exercise more or change a habit. We want to feel better and be healthier. Yet it is worth pausing to ask ourselves: Are these goals aligned with me and my values? Do they reflect what is important to me at this time?

We are all different.

We live in different bodies. We have different needs, life circumstances, states of health, and daily demands. What feels realistic for one person may be overwhelming for another. What supported us earlier in life may no longer serve us now. Comparing ourselves to others, or to who we once were, rarely helps. Holding onto an old version of ourselves can be limiting. Living authentically means listening closely and discovering what is needed in this moment of life.

Living authentically is not easy.

Living in alignment with our true nature can be a challenge. Many of our choices are shaped by external pressures: work deadlines, family responsibilities, financial concerns, illness, or the general uncertainty of our times. This ongoing unpredictability can leave us feeling tense, anxious, or unsettled. At the same time, inner pressures such as perfectionism, self-criticism, or the urge to keep going can pull us further away from ourselves.

Disconnection often happens gradually. We may function well on the outside, yet inside we do not feel present or at peace. We may be swamped by emotions like overwhelm, anger or irritation – all signs that something within us is asking for attention and care.

Less is more.

Adding more to our lives – more goals, routines or ways to improve ourselves – may not always serve us. It is important to discern what really supports us and let go of what does not. The turn of the year can be a helpful moment to ask: What do you need to release? It may be a commitment that leaves you depleted, or the pressure to push your body beyond your limits. Maybe it is time to let go of habits, expectations, or relationships that consistently drain your energy.

Be attentive to yourself. Notice how you feel when you go for a walk with your neighbour or when you got to the networking event? Does it give you energy, or does it leave you feeling exhausted? Do you often feel resentful, angry or ‘on edge’? Learning to ‘say no’ often is a necessity in order to connect with yourself in a meaningful and authentic way.

Pausing is essential.

Where and how can you create calm in your life? Where do you need to slow down? Pausing, resting, spending time in nature, or simply attending to your breath allows the nervous system to settle. Without rest and pause, our nervous system remains on high alert. Living in a constant fight-freeze-flight state makes us more reactive and less connected to ourselves.

Pauses can be simple: petting a cat, watching the clouds, admiring a flower, walking mindfully, or taking time for an Alexander Technique Active Rest. Small moments of presence help you reconnect you with your inner rhythm, restore a sense of orientation, and regain clarity.

Listening to the body and inner wisdom

Our bodies are constantly communicating with us. Fatigue, pain, tension, restlessness, or digestive discomfort are all signals offering information about how we live, move, think and feel. Many of us have learned to override these messages, pushing through discomfort in order to meet expectations, our own or those of others. When this becomes a habit, we gradually lose touch with our inner wisdom and intuition. Listening to the body invites us to slow down and to respond to ourselves with care. It asks us to ‘come home’, to settle and feel safe – something that is not possible without the body. We need to give ourselves the time to tune in. Over time, attentive listening supports wiser choices, greater balance, and a more authentic way of living.

Alexander Technique and Reflexology as support

Practices such as the Alexander Technique and Reflexology support this process of reconnection. In Alexander Technique sessions, gentle guidance and hands-on work help cultivate awareness, release unnecessary tension, improve posture and coordination, and change habitual patterns. Learning to pause and respond, rather than react, creates space for new conscious choices. Reflexology works through touch of the feet, supporting the nervous, hormonal, immune, and digestive system. It helps restore equilibrium and fosters the body’s innate capacity for regulation and healing.

May 2026 be a year to trust your inner wisdom, cultivate good health, and live more fully and authentically. May this inner work, guided by your body’s intelligence, nurture strength, resilience, calm, and clarity.