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Creating Space … To Enter 2026 Intentionally
- Tian Philson
- Mar 2
- 4 min read
Leading With VOICCE® Series.
Whew. Even now, as I journal my thoughts, I think about the phrase “I don’t have time for that,” and my chest tightens. Those six short words ruled my life for more years than I can count. It’s only been in the last 2–3 years that I’ve come to understand the havoc they created in my nervous system - and, more importantly, the inner work required to unravel the belief beneath them.
I Don't Have Time For That - Let's Go Deeper
This one cuts deep because the pain of it is still raw. The truth is "I don't have time for that" never served my energy well.
When I said it during the workday, it came with frustration, overwhelm, and resentment. When I said it outside of work, it came with longing or despair, because it was usually in reference to something I actually wanted to make time for but hadn’t yet figured out how.
But here’s the part that hits the hardest: Most of the time, I didn’t say the words out loud at all. I felt them - deep in my body. Scarcity. Exhaustion. Overwhelm.
When someone asked me to meet an impossible deadline, my chest tightened, but I didn’t have the language to even understand why.
When someone invited me to do something fun after a long week, I’d say, “I’ll let you know,” secretly wishing that my energy would magically replenish by the time the event arrived. (Spoiler: it rarely did.)
The truth for many of us is this: Even if we aren’t saying “I don’t have time for that,” we are living it. Our choices, our tone, our boundaries, and even our physical sensations reflect it.
But may I offer another approach?
Practice the pause
If a seemingly simple interaction triggers a gut-wrenching, chest-tightening, or deep-sigh-releasing moment… pause. Your body is trying to tell you something. There is wisdom there.
That pause might be the space you need to respond with clarity, to challenge thoughtfully, or to create room for possibility.
Too often, we rush from one thing to the next without ever checking in with ourselves, and then wonder why we're so exhausted or why we feel so disconnected.
This is no different than rushing into a new year. So before we talk about goals or resolutions, can we invite a pause… before the push?
Before I get ahead of myself, let’s look at how the pause shows up in different parts of life.
Pause before the response
When I played basketball in middle school, our coach would always tell us, “How you practice is how you play.” She was right. Practice creates patterns - in sports, and in life.
It’s not about being metaphorically “on the court" or “off the court.” It’s about how your conscious behaviors shape your subconscious responses.
If you practice pausing before you respond, you will eventually pause even when provoked. This becomes a game-changer when life starts swirling at full speed, and you don’t have time to consciously think through each moment. [For example, a calm day becomes an unexpected fire drill]
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Viktor Frankl
Pause After The Win
We don’t talk about this enough: The pause isn’t only for the hard moments. It’s also for the rewarding ones. After meaningful work has turned into a meaningful outcome, pause.
Ask yourself:
What did I learn?
Who contributed to this win?
What strengths did I use?
What do I want to carry forward?
Without the pause, even fulfillment becomes overlooked.
Build The Pause In
We weren’t designed to operate in high-output mode 24 hours a day - or even for eight uninterrupted hours. Our minds require small breaks to decompress, return to baseline, and allow our nervous systems to reset.
Here are a few ways to build the pause into your rhythm:
Daily:
60 seconds of intentional breathing before opening your inbox
A 2-minute reset walk after meetings
One meal each day without multitasking
Weekly:
A scheduled hour of reflection or creative space
Dedicated time in nature
A tech-free evening
A conversation that nourishes, not drains
Monthly:
A personal audit: What’s working? What’s draining me?
One experience that brings you joy or wonder
A reset ritual - tidy a space, journal, breathe, release
These pauses are not indulgences. They are necessary.
Pause and Reflect
Before you enter a new year, step back and ask yourself:
What am I most proud of?
What challenges did I face - and what did they teach me?
What did I learn about myself this year?
What am I craving as 2026 approaches?
These questions are the bridge between who you’ve been and the version of you that you are stepping into.
My New Year Pause
The new year has become one of my favorite times. The pause is built in. And over time, I’ve learned to turn that pause into something powerful - something that serves both my energy and my intention.
Your year can begin the same way: not with pressure, but with presence. We have permission to shift from hustle to heart-centered, and from urgency to alignment.
Does this resonate? If so, I invite you to join me for one of my favorite experiences of the year: Word Up! 2026 - Craft Your Intention. Align with Your Values. Envision Your Year.
This experience is carefully curated to blend the power of executive coaching, mindful intention setting, and powerful visioning to life so that you can step into 2026 with greater clarity, and unwavering focus.
Thank you for your presence. I am so excited to continue this journey with you!
In gratitude, Tian.
Tian Philson Leadership, Wellness & Mindset Coach | Creator of the VOICCE® Decision Making & Empowerment Framework |Helping leaders go inward so they can go upward.
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