7 Rules for 2026:

Save these for next year.

Is it just me or is December passing by really fast?

There’s just a little more than a week until this year is over.

Before the year ends, I want to come up with a few “rules” to follow going into 2026.

Here are some I thought of:

1. Do it before you feel ready.

This is one of those things where it’s hard but it’s not too hard. I think having a bit of challenge is crucial for growth. If we always choose what’s comfortable, we will just get lazier over time.

Most people wait until they feel ready, but “ready” is a feeling that rarely shows up on time. It usually comes after you start, not before. If you keep waiting for confidence, clarity, or perfect conditions, you’ll stay stuck in the same place, convincing yourself you’re being patient when you’re really just afraid of getting it wrong.

2. It’s okay to get it wrong.

For most people, this is probably the most crippling thing. But if you really think about it, it’s mostly irrational. We spend so much time trying to avoid mistakes, when in reality, it’s often the fastest way forward.

Most mistakes aren’t failures. They’re just information you didn’t have yet. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make the right choice the first time, as if getting it wrong means we weren’t smart enough or prepared enough. But the truth is, clarity comes from trying, not from overthinking.

3. Let consistency beat motivation.

Consistency is something I often struggle with. It’s easy when things are new and exciting, but what will you do once that fades? I think back about things I’ve started but did not complete, and I wonder — how different would my life turn out if I kept being consistent?

Motivation is unreliable. Some days you feel like you can take on the world, and some days you struggle to get out of bed. I think one of the best skills to develop in life is to be able to do things regardless of how you feel.

You don’t need to be inspired every day. You just need to keep showing up in simple, repeatable ways. When consistency beats motivation, progress becomes less about bursts of effort and more about trust. Small steps are often enough, and trust that the process will take you to where you want to be.

4. Do fewer things, better.

One reason I feel like I struggle with consistency is because I try to take on too many things at once. When you’re motivated, you overestimate your capacity. Saying no to things you don’t care about is easy. Saying no to things you’re excited about so that you can do fewer things better is where the real value lies.

When you try to do everything, nothing really gets the care it deserves. You end up feeling busy without feeling fulfilled. Progress isn’t always about adding more. What’s the point of adding more if it’s not done well?

5. Make peace with being misunderstood.

The biggest thing stopping us is usually someone’s opinion. We care too much about what other people think, and we let people who don’t matter stop us from doing things that matter to us.

Not everyone will see you the way you see yourself, and that’s okay. If you spend your life trying to correct every misunderstanding, you’ll end up shrinking yourself to stay palatable. Clarity is important, but over-explaining is exhausting. At some point, you have to trust that the people who matter will understand you in time, and the rest don’t need constant convincing.

6. Be honest about what you want.

A lot of people aren’t confused about what they want, they’re just avoiding the full truth. They downplay their desires — either to fit in with the masses, or because pursuing what they actually want would be too uncomfortable.

A lot of frustration comes from pretending we want less than we do, or wanting something different just because it feels safer or more acceptable. When you’re unclear or dishonest about your desires, you end up making choices that don’t fully satisfy you.

7. Take yourself seriously.

I’m so guilty of this. How many times have you half-assed an attempt even when it mattered to you? We try things, but we don’t fully commit — and then we’re left wondering whether it didn’t work because we weren’t good enough, or because we didn’t actually give it an honest attempt.

2026 is the year I want to work on this. I want to take myself more seriously. I want to follow through when I start something, stay consistent even when I don’t feel like it, and leave nothing on the table.

We spend so much time never fully trying, and wondering what our potential could have been if we actually tried. And before we know it, life moves on — and we’re left wishing we had tried harder at the things that actually mattered when we had the chance.

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Well, this was fun to write out.

I like reflecting on my journey. It gives me a good perspective of what I’ve done and what I could do better.

I left home to travel 8 years ago. I’ve fully embraced the process now. Day by day, step by step, I’ll keep figuring it out and things will slowly get better and better.

from my book “embrace” released this year in July

If this list resonated with you, my book embrace explores similar themes around growth, self-honesty, and learning to show up for your own life. It could be something for you to sit with if you’re in a reflective season too.