Start the New Year with Intention: Get Off Your “Buts” and Embrace Hope

As the calendar flips to January, there’s something irresistible about the promise of a clean slate. We make resolutions, dream of fresh starts, and imagine the person we might finally become—if only we could get past that one little word: but. “But I’m too tired.” “But I don’t have time.” “But what if I fail?” Sound familiar? Those “buts” sneak into our goals, dreams, and even our sense of calling, quietly convincing us to stay comfortable instead of courageous.

Ancient stories from the bible echo this same human hesitation. Sarah laughed at the idea of new beginnings.  She said, “But I’m too old and worn out.”  Moses doubted his ability to lead.  He said, “But what if they won’t listen.  I am not eloquent (he spoke with a stutter).”   Gideon felt too small, Jeremiah too young, Jonah too resistant, and Ananias too afraid to forgive and face Saul, the persecutor of Christians.  Each had a “but” that stood between them and the life they were called to live. Yet, when they stepped past their doubts, they discovered something profound: courage doesn’t require certainty—just willingness. Hope often begins not in confidence, but in movement.

So as you step into 2026, what if you stopped letting your “buts” boss you around? What if you decided that this is the year you do the thing you’ve been talking yourself out of? Maybe it’s signing up for that pottery class, joining a running club, volunteering, applying for a new job, or finally writing the first page of that book. Stop saying, “But I’m not ready,” and start saying, “I’m going to try.” Growth rarely waits for perfect timing — it happens when you begin, shaky hands and all.

Think of how different your life might look by this time next year if you traded excuses for intention. What if, instead of waiting to feel brave, you acted brave? What if you gave yourself permission to fail forward, to learn, to be new at something again? The truth is, your “but” will always find a reason to sit things out—but your soul is craving motion.

So here’s your challenge for the new year: catch yourself every time you say “but,” and replace it with “and.” “I’m nervous and I’m doing it anyway.” “I’m not sure how and I’ll figure it out.” That tiny shift turns hesitation into momentum.

Hope doesn’t erase fear—it invites you to move through it. So, lace up, sign up, show up, and trust that what you begin with intention will unfold with grace. Get off your “buts” in 2026 and see what extraordinary things happen when you stop making excuses and start saying yes.

Happy New Year, Neighbors!