As the calendar turns and resolutions come back into focus, the familiar question resurfaces: how do we make meaningful changes that actually last..?
This theme was explored in depth on Monaco Info, where psychotherapist Audrey Akoun offered a thoughtful and grounded take on New Year’s intentions, one that moves away from pressure and perfection.
Rather than rigid resolutions that often fade by February, Akoun encouraged viewers to rethink January 1 as a moment of realignment, not self-judgment. According to her, many resolutions fail because they are driven by fear: fear of not being good enough, healthy enough, successful enough. Changes rooted in anxiety, she explained, are difficult to sustain. Instead, she advocates asking a simpler, more honest question: what no longer feels right in my life, and what would genuinely improve my well-being?
This shift places mental and emotional health at the centre of the conversation. On Monaco Info, Akoun emphasised the importance of kindness toward oneself, choosing small, realistic steps rather than drastic upheaval. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, she highlighted the power of gradual progress: a daily adjustment, a boundary reset, or a conscious effort to nurture relationships.
Importantly, she rejected the idea that renewal requires sweeping changes or dramatic breaks from everyday life. Growth, she suggested, happens within the frameworks we already inhabit, work, family, routine, by adjusting where we place our energy and what we choose to accept.
As 2026 begins, the message is clear: lasting change is less about grand resolutions and more about clarity, self-respect, and choosing, each day, to move gently toward a life that feels more balanced and meaningful.
Photo by Tim Mossholder
