January doesn’t have to be about sprinting out of the gate or forcing yourself to “start strong.” It’s about slowing down long enough to get clear — not on what you want to do, but on how you want to feel.

In this episode, I talk about how neuroscience backs up this emotional-first approach to goal-setting — showing that our feelings literally shape our focus, attention, and behavior. You’ll learn why the emotions you lead with become the GPS for your life, how to clarify your 2026 intentions without burnout, and why you don’t need to hit the ground running on January 1st.

I also share my own yearly reflection process — celebrating wins, choosing a word for the year, refining my “dream big” goals across career, family, physical, and spiritual areas, and defining a vision that feels alive by the end of January.

Because when your outer goals finally match your inner truth, you stop chasing results — and start creating alignment.

🎧 Tune in to learn how to lead your new year not with pressure, but with peace, purpose, and emotional clarity.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariadelgaiso.substack.com