Not a New Year, New You? Honoring the True Seasonal Energy of January in Family Business
- racketgroup
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
January has a way of coming in loud.
New goals. New plans. New energy. New you.
And yet, if I’m being honest, that’s not the energy I’m feeling – personally, professionally, or collectively – as we step into 2026.
This blog post is both a gentle PSA and a bit of a love note for anyone who’s moving into January and wondering why they don’t feel ready to sprint forward yet.
There Is No “Right” Way to Feel in January
I want to start here, because it matters.
There is no should when it comes to how you’re feeling right now.
Whether you’re reading this in early January or later in the month, there isn’t a correct emotional state you’re supposed to be in. You’re not behind. You’re not doing it wrong. And you’re certainly not broken if you’re not feeling that classic “new year, new me” surge of motivation.
As a family business coach – and as someone who owns and operates a sixth‑generation family business myself – I see this every year. The calendar flips, and suddenly there’s pressure to feel energized, clear, decisive, and ready to charge ahead.
But what if that expectation isn’t actually aligned with the season we’re in?
January 1st Is an Arbitrary Line – Not a Natural One
This might feel obvious once it’s said out loud, but it’s worth naming.
January 1st is a fairly arbitrary marker of time.
Yes, the calendar is incredibly useful. It helps us coordinate meetings, run businesses, and show up for one another in shared time and space. But it doesn’t align with the lunar new year, the astrological new year, or many of the cycles humans have honored for centuries.
In fact, declaring January 1st as “New Year’s Day” is one of the newest ideas in how humans track time.
So if you’re feeling out of sync with the energy you think you’re supposed to have right now, it might not be a personal issue at all – it might simply be a seasonal one.
Winter Is a Season of Rest, Not Reinvention
Here at Legacy, we took intentional time off from December 21st through the new year. Personally, I stepped away from social media, spent time in true rest, read physical books, slowed my media consumption, and leaned into long, spacious mornings filled with meditation and reflection.
And what became very clear to me during that time was this:
The shedding isn’t finished yet.
If you follow the lunar calendar, you know that the Lunar New Year doesn’t arrive until late February. The past year – the Year of the Snake – carried deep themes of shedding old skins, releasing outdated structures, and letting go of patterns that no longer fit.
For me, and for many of my clients, 2025 was exactly that. A year of examining what wasn’t aligned – in business, in relationships, and in how we were showing up.
So when January arrived and work resumed, I noticed something important in my own body and energy:
Nothing had reset.
The work of releasing was still very much underway.
If You’re Not Feeling “New Yet,” That Might Be the Point
I’ve had so many conversations recently with people saying things like:
“Everyone else seems excited and energized, and I just… don’t feel it.”
And here’s what I gently offer in response:
Maybe there’s still something completing.
Maybe January isn’t asking you to leap forward, but to fully finish what you’ve already been releasing.
The Lunar New Year arrives later in February. The astrological new year doesn’t begin until March, when Aries season ushers in spring – a time that actually makes sense for beginnings, momentum, and outward growth.
If you don’t feel ready yet, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It may simply mean you’re honoring the true rhythm of the season.
What Season Is Your Business In?
This is where I always invite my family business clients to get curious.
Not every business – or family system – is in the same season at the same time.
Ask yourself:
Is my business craving a fresh start right now?
Or is it still shedding, refining, and simplifying?
Or is it actually in deep winter, asking for rest, consolidation, and strength‑building before the next growth cycle?
Trying to force spring when it’s still winter – in ourselves or in our businesses – usually creates more tension, not clarity. Honoring the season you’re actually in allows decisions to come from alignment rather than pressure.
Permission to Move at the Pace of Truth
My hope with sharing this is simple: permission.
Permission to slow down. Permission to listen deeply. Permission to trust that your timing – and your business’s timing – doesn’t need to match the calendar on your wall.
Growth will come. Momentum will come. Spring always does.
But for now, it’s okay to be exactly where you are.
A Gentle Invitation for 2026
As we look ahead, I want to share one intention I’m planting for this year.
Because 2025 was such a meaningful year for Legacy and for our family business, I’ve decided to offer 100 free energy work and coaching sessions in 2026.
If you – or someone you love – are navigating family business dynamics, leadership transitions, or simply trying to understand what season you’re in right now, you’re welcome to explore that support.
You’ll find the scheduling link here:
Wherever you are in this season, I’m wishing you exactly what you need – whether that’s rest, clarity, momentum, or spaciousness – as you continue building a business and legacy that truly honors you and the people you care about most.