We're at the end of January. How are those new things going?

Maybe some of them are clicking. Maybe others feel like a slog. And maybe there's something you started this month that you're already thinking about walking away from.

Here's the thing: not everything deserves your continued effort. But not everything hard is a sign to quit either. The tricky part is knowing the difference.

What You'll Find in This Edition:

Some things are hard because they're new. Unfamiliar. Outside your comfort zone. That kind of hard is usually worth leaning into.

Some things are hard because they're wrong for you. Wrong timing, wrong fit, wrong season of life. That kind of hard is telling you something.

So how do you figure out which is which? Get honest: Does this challenge me in a way that feels like growth, even if it's uncomfortable? Or does it drain me in a way that feels like forcing?

If it's growth, stay. Lean in. Give yourself permission to be bad at it a while longer. Progress is rarely a straight line - it's more like two steps forward, one step back, a sideways shuffle, then a small win you almost miss.

If it's not for you, let it go. No guilt. No dramatic exit. Just a quiet "this isn't mine" and a redirect toward something that is.

Some weeks call for culinary adventures. Other weeks call for eggs.

This is an eggs week. My go-to lazy frittata: whatever vegetables are in the fridge, some cheese, eggs, 20 minutes in the oven. No recipe required. No performance.

It's the kind of meal that says "I'm feeding myself well without making it a whole thing." Sometimes that's exactly the energy we need.

If you want something heartier: my white bean sausage skillet is warm, cozy, and perfect for batch cooking. One pan, minimal fuss, and enough to get you through the week.

That workout you keep putting off? The class you dread? Try the 10-minute strategy.

Commit to just 10 minutes. If you get there and want to keep going, keep going. If you still want to stop, stop. No guilt.

Sometimes the resistance is just getting started. Once you're moving, your body remembers it likes this. Other times, 10 minutes in and you're still counting the seconds. That's information too.

Movement should add to your life, not subtract from it. If something consistently leaves you feeling depleted, it might be time to try a different approach.

This week: Use the 10-minute test on the thing you've been avoiding.

We measure progress in big, obvious ways. The number on the scale. The promotion. The finish line.

But most real progress is quieter. You're less winded on the stairs. You catch yourself before the negative self-talk spiral. You go to bed instead of scrolling. These shifts don't announce themselves. You have to look for them.

Seeing them requires slowing down. Tuning out the noise. Checking in with yourself honestly - not judging, just noticing.

This week: Write down three tiny ways you've moved forward this month. They don't have to be impressive. They just have to be true. 

Then try this week's meditation - a simple grounding practice to help you land where you are.

Here's to keeping what serves you and releasing what doesn't.

Steph