Why Your New Year’s Resolutions Are Doomed (And How to Actually Change in 2026)

Over the years at Joya, we’ve watched the same beautiful pattern unfold like clockwork:

Right after New Year’s, the studio fills with fresh faces—new members signing up for classes, workshops, and memberships with that electric spark of intention. “This is the year,” they say. And then… by March or April, most of them are gone.

For years I thought it was a lack of motivation. A lack of discipline. A lack of ambition.

But the truth I’ve come to see after 20+ years of deep spiritual work is far more honest and far more compassionate:

New Year’s resolutions don’t fail because of willpower.

They fail because of subconscious programming.

Most of us are trying to build a new life on top of an old operating system. And that old system is quietly whispering:

“You’re not disciplined enough.”

“You always quit.”

“Change is hard.”

“People like you don’t get to have it all.”

“You’re not worthy of consistency.”

These aren’t just thoughts.

They’re deeply embedded beliefs—written into your nervous system before you were old enough to question them.

They run 95% of your behavior while your conscious mind is busy making vision boards and setting goals. So when February hits and the excitement fades, the subconscious pulls you back to the familiar.

Back to the comfort of the known.

Back to the version of you that feels “safe” (even if it’s small).

The good news?

This is not a flaw in you.

This is a feature of being human.

And it can be rewritten.

Here are the practical steps you can begin today to start dismantling the old programming and building a new mindset that actually supports the life you want:

1. Notice the Whisper: The moment you catch yourself thinking “I’m not disciplined enough” or “I always quit,” pause.Simply name it: “That’s an old story, not the truth.”Awareness alone begins to loosen its grip.
2. Feel It in the Body: These beliefs live in your nervous system, not just your mind.When the thought arises, place a hand on your heart or belly and breathe slowly for 10 seconds.Let the sensation of the belief soften.This interrupts the automatic loop.
3. Replace with Truth: Choose one new sentence that feels truer:“I am learning to show up for myself.”“I am safe to grow.”“Consistency is my new natural state.”Repeat it daily—out loud, in writing, in the mirror—until it starts to feel more real than the old voice.
4. Act As If: Take one small, aligned action every day that the new version of you would take.Even five minutes of movement, journaling, or meditation.The body learns through repetition, not just thought.
5. Celebrate the Evidence: Every time you follow through, even imperfectly, acknowledge it.“I did that.”Small wins rewire your brain to expect success instead of failure.

This work is gentle, patient, and deeply powerful. It doesn’t require perfection—it requires presence.

As I step into 2026, I am launching my own coaching practice focused exactly on this: helping people rewrite their subconscious programming so they can stop fighting themselves and start living as the powerful, aligned beings they truly are.

If this resonates with you, keep an eye out for more from me this year.

I’ll be sharing tools, insights, and invitations to go deeper into this work.

Here’s to making 2026 the year you finally stop waiting and start remembering who you really are.

With Love & Light,

Deanna