As 2025 draws to a close, end of year reflection offers a valuable pause – not just to review what we achieved, but to notice how we responded to change. For many, this year has highlighted a simple but powerful truth: life and work tend to flow more easily when we move with change rather than resist it. This has been a year that asked for flexibility – in life, work, wellbeing, and identity. Across coaching conversations, a shared theme has emerged: when plans shift or certainty fades, our relationship with change – and how we adapt – matters more than the outcomes themselves. These reflections, drawn from coaching conversations and my personal experience, invite a quieter, more grounded way of stepping into 2026.
Releasing ‘Shoulds’ and Finding a More Grounded Way Forward
One of the heaviest forms of resistance I’ve witnessed this year comes from engrained ideas about how work, success, or progress is meant to look.
For some, that’s the pressure to follow a prescribed strategy. For others, it’s the quiet belief that their path doesn’t quite fit the usual mould. These limiting beliefs are often looping in the background, shaping decisions and draining energy.
When they loosen – sometimes through reflection, sometimes through challenging times – people often find a more grounded way forward. The path feels easier somehow, more aligned with your values.
How Coaching Supports Sustainable Change and Self-Trust
Growth doesn’t always ‘arrive’ and present itself – no dramatic pivots or outwardly visible reinventions. More often, it shows up quietly: self-belief strengthening, confidence expanding, wellbeing stabilising, and goals being met in ways that feel sustainable rather than forced.
This year, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals as they stretched beyond familiar edges and into their potential. I’ve witnessed courage build gradually and trust deepen – the kind of change that lasts because it’s rooted in self-awareness rather than performative urgency.
One client summed it up simply on an email recently:“You helped me achieve what I set out to do.”
Why Outdoor Group Coaching Deepens Reflection and Perspective
Another powerful theme this year has been the impact of coaching – beyond four walls. Facilitating group coaching sessions outdoors, has reiterated how;
- Conversations often soften and deepen when we walk side by side
- Perspective widens when we look up and around us
- Nature and walking together creates a sense of freedom
- When we feel ‘safe enough’ as a group, we’re enabled to reflect honestly, to speak more freely, and to explore ideas with curiosity rather than judgement.
Coaching in outdoor spaces – and in my experience – in urban settings, allows agency and insight to emerge in ways that feel both natural and brave. It reminds us that reflection doesn’t always need stillness and a notebook – sometimes it needs movement and fresh air.
Looking Ahead to 2026 With Openness and Flexibility
As this year closes, I’m aware of a shared sense of stretch – a signal of change, despite the uncertainty.
For many, 2026 may invite:
- More group work and collaboration – a shared purpose
- More facilitation and shared learning – as an experience
- Less attachment to how things ‘should’ happen – curiosity rather than control
- More trust in what’s quietly taking shape – quietening your inner critic, empowering your inner coach. (Read more about why we focus on the negative here)
Not knowing exactly what’s involved in this stretch – that’s OK – and is part of the process. What matters most is a willingness to stay open and be responsive.
In early January 2026, I’ll be sharing details of a small and thoughtful group coaching programme for midlife women designed to support sustainable change and meaningful stretch in uncertain times. If that resonates with where you’re right now, I’d love you to get in touch – email me here.
Five End of 2025 Reflection Prompts
Take one question with you on a walk, or sit with it quietly and intentionally:
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Where did I resist change this year – and where did I allow myself to move with it?
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What beliefs or expectations am I ready to release as I step into 2026?
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In what ways have I quietly matured or grown, even if it wasn’t obvious at the time?
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When did I feel most grounded, alive, or aligned this year – and why?
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If I trusted myself just a little more next year, what might become possible?
