124 - Beginning With Presence: Mindfulness and Intention for the New Year

In January, our society tends to tell us to do more, fix ourselves, and start over… but what if the most powerful way to begin the year is actually through mindfulness? In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun offers a different starting point for the new year - one rooted in mindfulness, nervous system awareness, and compassionate intention-setting. Elizabeth unpacks what mindfulness really is (and what it’s not), gently challenging the idea that mindfulness is about calming down or simply engaging in positive thinking (or getting it “right”). Instead, mindfulness is presented as a brave and practical practice of paying attention, without judging, fixing, or escaping what we notice.Key TakeawaysMindfulness changes the quality of how we grow, not whether we grow.Mindfulness helps us relate to action with more clarity, steadiness, and alignment.Awareness must come before sustainable change. We can’t shift patterns we aren’t aware of. Mindfulness helps us notice when choices are driven by fear, urgency, or habit - and creates space for more intentional responses.Intentions work best when they support the nervous system. A mindful intention is a direction of attention, not a demand. It leaves room for uncertainty, rest, and returning again and again without self-judgment.Resources Sign up here for free workshop Start 2026 with Clarity: Reconnect with Your Inner Compass  Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here. Contact Elizabeth: [email protected] to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!