2026: A Softer Year, A Stronger You (Intention & Alignment)

We’re officially stepping into 2026 — and this conversation is about moving forward softer, wiser, and more intentional.

In this episode, we reflect honestly on 2025 — the losses, the lessons, the growth, and the strength that came from walking through hard seasons and coming out stronger. We talk about trusting God’s timing, releasing comparison, setting boundaries, and embracing an elevated version of yourself — not a “new you,” but a more aligned one.

We unpack:

• Why “new year, new me” doesn’t have to be your story
• The difference between growth and pressure
• Letting go of people, habits, and cycles that drain your energy
• Moving into 2026 with intention, softness, and clarity
• Why comparison steals joy — and how to stop letting it
• Observing instead of absorbing other people’s trauma
• Creating space for what God truly has for you

This is a grounded, real, and faith-rooted conversation about womanhood, adulthood, healing, boundaries, and growth — with laughs, honesty, and perspective along the way.

✨ 2026 is about alignment, not rushing.
 ✨ Growth without guilt.
 ✨ Soft hustle. Strong faith.

Transcript

Stepping Out Of 2025’s Fire

SPEAKER_04 0:03

We do a lot of hell in 2025. I mean strong person, mentally, physically, spiritually.

SPEAKER_05 0:12

I just I'm going to 2026. I'm missing myself and I'm going to listen to it after. I'm just a little myself. Just a little bit of my time. Um for me.

SPEAKER_04 0:27

Everything was great. Because God knows I'm not just. I'm not where I want to be this day. But I knew where I was. Don't be hard on yourself. Think about all the things you are before you worry about the things that you're not. Of January 1st, 2026.

SPEAKER_02 0:48

Woman in Black is where we put down the cape and pick up the mic, being authentically who we are, where we are, unmasked, unfiltered, and unapologetic.

SPEAKER_05 1:00

Alright, so first let's check in.

SPEAKER_00 1:04

I'm super excited. We're in 2026, y'all. We had 2026. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 1:12

We're in 2026. I was 2035.

SPEAKER_05 1:17

Did you so and I'm gonna say this real quick. I thought my 2025 was all bad until I actually sat down and I was like, oh, we started podcasts with the wrong with you. Did you get time to review your 2025? I like to just sit with it.

SPEAKER_04 1:36

I did, yeah. I've um I gained people, I lost people, not lost people, I grew apart from people. Right. I've gained a lot of experiences. I went through a lot of hell in 2025. Um, it made me a stronger person mentally, physically, spiritually. Um and it's over now, y'all. I know that's right. So we wrapped it up. Now we're going into 2026, and I'm just so happy to be here, guys.

SPEAKER_05 2:12

Yeah, when you said I went through hell, I just had an image of you walking through fire and coming out unscathed.

Faith, Wilderness, And Resilience

SPEAKER_04 2:20

Oh, so let me tell y'all about something that happened to me when I went on church when I went to church on Sunday. She talked about how we all are in the wilderness. Although I was in the wilderness going through hell, every weapon that formed did not prosper. Okay? And again, we are not holier than thou up here in this couch, but we know where our strength comes from. And in this day and age, we don't have any other choice but to trust God. So if you want out here trusting God, I would need you to catch up. It's time to start putting your trust in God. Because once you put your trust in God, He's gonna start sending stuff your way. Opening doors, all of that. So it's Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_05 3:14

So 2025. Oh, we're 2026 and done, y'all. It's done, guys. This is Josh copy, but

Introducing The Soft Hustle Journal

SPEAKER_05 3:25

listen, I'll put some links down. I'm just let me tell y'all about this journal, though. It's a nice journal, guys. This journal, although it's very simple, is really a part of my heart. Like, journaling for me has been therapy. Planning is essential for me to get through my days. So it's a planner plus a journal, and I go through that. And it's it looks simple, but when I say it's a part of my heart, it really is because I first came out, I came out with my first journal in 2022. I was in a different headspace, but like I knew who I wanted to become, and most of what I put in there is still is in here just refined.

SPEAKER_03 4:10

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_05 4:10

And so the fact that I was able through even loss to come out with what do you call it? I wanna say like the next episode times three, the devil sequel. Version two, the level up, yeah. So it's the soft hustle. The first one was self-care, self-discovery, um, self-reflection, and that was all needed necessary, still is. That's why I kept a lot of stuff in here. But the soft hustle, like for me, I worked myself, I want to say into the ground because I felt like I had to peel myself up all of it. And I just going into 2026, I promised myself that I'm gonna move into it softer, more gentle, um, gentle with myself,

New Year Mindset: Softer, Intentional

SPEAKER_05 5:05

gentle with my time, um, and caring more for me, caring more for dads. Like, I I care I love these kids, love my husband, but you know I want to show up different. I'm gonna show up whole. Yeah, for my kids.

SPEAKER_04 5:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:23

Because if you're not the best version of yourself, right, you're not any you're you won't be any good for anyone. So you gotta put your oxygen mask on for us, girl. So make sure y'all can talk. Make sure you get the journal link below.

SPEAKER_04 5:37

Yes. So with it being 2026, let's talk about that thing that everybody, oh, this happens every year. Okay, don't get on here talking about new year, new me. Leave the people alone. If they decided that January 1st was gonna be the start of a new them, leave them alone. Right, 100%. Like, leave them alone. I wouldn't say for me, it's new year, new me. Um, it's more of a new season, not new me, elevated me. You know what I mean? Softer me, um, more open me, more intentional me. It's not new me because where's the old me going? The old me's still in there somewhere, you know what I mean? So it's more intentional. I'm moving with intention, everything with grace. I'm just moving intentionally and softer. Yes, it has to make sense. Um, I want people around me that add to me, not not in any one particular way. Um, I just need people on the same page. We all out here loving on each other, praying for each other, speaking life into each other, growing, have having goals for ourselves. So I just want happy people around me. Let's say that. Um, and really happy, not that fake happy. I want the genuine, that's my girl, like my girl gotta mean this year. Happy girl, for real. Like, that's the kind of happy we want. We don't want that fake happy and then get on the phone with other people, and oh, I guess she got we don't even got time for that this year. Cause they exist, because people do that, yes. Uh, but it's a more softer, more just living and just the full. I'm embracing the full adulthood, Josh. That woman, like, I know that's right. I'm her. Um, I'm still a mom. The kids is grown, and they get taken care of fully. Okay, but I am embracing womanhood, living my life, hello, and keeping God first. So, what about you?

SPEAKER_05 8:08

First of all, I love this for you. I'm here. I listen, I'm a sign on the wall for her life, but I'm also an active participant. No, seriously. Because I listen, I am a cheerleader. My friends know that I'm a cheerleader. I I get so excited for those people close to me. I don't know how to explain it, but

Friends, Growth, And Real Boundaries

SPEAKER_05 8:30

I get so excited because when you start to develop bonds and relationships with people, you want to see them win. You know what I mean? You want to see them win, like you genuinely want to see them win. Right. It's like a win for them, a wimp is a win for me. Like our conversation is about to change. Oh, Jesus. The rooms we walk in are about to change.

SPEAKER_04 8:51

About to change, and guess what? We are mentally prepared, spiritually prepared, and we're about to walk through those doors. And the stuff that's about to take place in your life, in my life, in women in flax live, it's only God 100%. So don't be trying to figure out how we did it. Just know, maybe guy upstairs.

SPEAKER_05 9:17

You don't worry about us. 2026. Um I agree with the you know, stop shame the people. I reset every month. Like every month I reset. That's my thing. I look back and try to accomplish something else. And also, like I have things for my myself that I do. You may this may resonate with you. So before my birthday, every year, my birthday's in the beginning of the year, right? It's the second month. So I have things every year that I want to accomplish before my next birthday. That's how I measure my growth, my success. Like I put things in the ground to say, okay, not necessarily by the end of everybody else's year, but by the end of my year, there are certain things that I want to accomplish for me. That's gonna make me happy, make me proud as a mom, a white, as design. And so um, that's how I do my year. And so other people want to put that stake in the ground for December 31st, let them let them put the stake in the ground because it's all about growth. And if they want to say it's a new deal, let them say it's a new deal. Who am I to judge? Because guess what? Through everything I've been through, and every season, sometimes I come out and it's a new, it's a new me. And you know it's crazy. Everybody can't accept that about like they friends, they really can't.

SPEAKER_04 10:41

Um they want some because a lot of people think about this, right? If you're around people all the time who are complacent and they just they're not changing, the conversation never changes. When you start to develop a different mindset, a different perspective, and you start talking differently, they're gonna see it before you hear it. Yeah, and they don't want the new you. What you mean? They want the old friend, they old friend, like as that other friend, the what? But as that other friend, let's play the devil's advocate. Let me be the other friend that that hasn't changed, right? Friend, let's go. Let's motivate that other friend to change. And guess what? All you can do is try to feed them if they don't take it, if they don't take the food, if they don't take the lesson, and they don't take your advice, you just gotta level up. It is what it is.

SPEAKER_05 11:38

Am I wrong for like feeling like that ain't even my responsibility? Like, it's not me growing,

Observe, Don’t Absorb Energy

SPEAKER_05 11:45

it's just an option. Okay, that's why I like it. Yeah, I like it. Yeah, I might say, gee, you be so wrong in so many ways. But I'm not because let me let me I guess the reason why I feel that way is I feel like I personally, maybe in the past, took on responsibility to help people grow and it stunted my growth. Yes, and therefore I will I refuse to put myself in a situation where um like come come come on come from the worst. Like I can't, right, right and so I think what the way I try to live is just through my actions, right? Like, okay, now you see me. I guess, hmm, because you said it's the option, right? Sometimes I I have a a habit of and I'm trying to grow past it, of burning down the whole house. Like, what's so it's simply I'm like throw the whole thing away, throw it, throw it on yet. Yeah, I do one, yeah. We just gonna replace. Yeah, but um I think what I'm learning in my maturity is sometimes it takes people longer, and I'm not a pushy person, so I kind of just stay on my path, and it's okay to say, come on, let's go. You wanna come? You wanna come? Like in a softer way, because my mind automatic, based on what you said, my mind automatically went to that sound like work, but it don't have to be it doesn't have to be right, it doesn't have to be work, and so I I needed to stop right there and have that little conversation real quick and even speak out loud because I'm like, Dez, you do you're doing it again. You're about to burn down a whole house.

SPEAKER_03 13:31

Oh, how to one of that other house.

SPEAKER_05 13:35

All right, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:37

Sometimes saying it out loud helps helps you, right? And another thing for me that's big, um, because I am I am the hole that everyone ducks their traumas in. I'm observing this year, and I'm not absorbing. Ty sent me a video and was like, this is your and the the concept of it was when people come to you with their problems because you're a fixer, like you want to help everybody, just listen. Yes, just listen because a lot of the times, and it goes

Comparison, Purpose, And Authenticity

SPEAKER_04 14:15

back to this a lot of the times they don't really want our advice, they don't want to fix it. Especially if it's the same thing that's been it's just a repeating cycle, they don't want to fix it. So here you are absorbing everything because again, you laying out the plan, and now I'm doing it so now you absorbing and it's draining. Nobody this year is gonna drain my energy in a negative way. Listen, that was working.

SPEAKER_05 14:43

2025, Lester. I got some tips if you need them.

SPEAKER_04 14:46

Listen. What? Listen, and then don't let us make you feel like you have to catch up to what we're doing in our 2026. Where you are right now, mentally, spiritually, spiritually, physically, that's where you're supposed to be. Right. Where I am right now, it took me a long, long, long time. Right. Like, it took me so long to get here. So do not let us, do not let these people on social media, the so these are real lives, right? But those other people on social media with the fake ones, don't let them guilt trip you into thinking you're supposed to be up here. Yes, if that's the lifestyle you want for yourself, create it. But you don't have to rush it because it's all about divine time, God's divine time. So don't be hard on yourself. You got reforer head, you all taking care of them kids. Is your soul pure? Are you a genuine person? You know what I mean? Like, think about all the things you are before you worry about the things that you're not for January 1st, 2026. You gotta be happy for work up, won't you? Yes, yes, because God knows I'm not listening, I'm not where I want to be just yet. When I ain't where I was. So, yeah. Um, yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Hey, it's Des here. Before we continue, if you're a woman who does it all, sports mom, dance mom, beach girl, healthcare worker, someone whose life doesn't fit into one lane, you need a bag that can keep up. This episode is in affiliation with Bog Bag. It's durable, waterproof, modular, and fully customizable. Whether you're headed to the stadium, the beach, or straight into a long day, it holds your lifestyle together without you having to think about it. You'll find the link in the show notes and the comments. Now let's get back to the conversation.

SPEAKER_05 16:52

You you hit the dial on the head. Oh Jesus. Yeah. I ain't got said on those. Who can do?

SPEAKER_04 17:01

You do, you know, but you did. But but the series because social media is the big is the biggest downfall for a lot of people's lives. Like everybody wants these fake, rich, famous lives. No.

Delete The Number, Guard Your Peace

SPEAKER_05 17:20

It's like a spirit. I like I hate to say it, but it is. And it it's sad because it's a spirit of comparison too. And what do they say? Comparison is the deep of I don't know, somebody finished that. I might let us know in the comments. Comparison is the deep of joy. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 17:44

I wish we could hit the boom. It's too far.

SPEAKER_05 17:51

Yeah, and that that that's important because everything you said, but also God didn't put God engineered each and every one of us so specifically for a define a divine purpose that why would I even want to be like anybody else?

SPEAKER_04 18:10

Right, right. I am me. Like, honestly, I'm so me. What you see is what you're going to get. We know. Like I know. Like, what you see is what you're gonna get. I'm not gonna pretend with nobody. I'm not gonna fake anything. Like what you see is what you get. If you come to me with a great positive attitude, the same way I'm naturally gonna come, you're gonna get it back. If you come to me in something else, in in 2026, you might not get it back exactly how you would have a couple years ago, but you are going to get ignored. Like nobody's business. I have your boundaries, those are my boundaries. I'm just gonna ignore it. I'm not over-explaining myself. No, I'm not I'm not saying nothing actually. No, no, but because it's our ADHD brands right now, ladies. Did y'all delete them phone numbers?

Goals For 2026 And Real Life

SPEAKER_04 19:10

Delete it out. Delete that is still time. Delete that minute number on your phone. Did y'all do it yet? Delete that cool at whoever's laughing at us right now because I just said that. What you just say? Delete that friend. Yeah, no apology. Don't say now what we want you to do is not take any negative energy into the next minute of your life. Delete it in three seconds.

SPEAKER_05 19:37

Thank you. Because I delete like God. God allow God tells us, like, He shows us, He gives us signs, He gives us everything. Listen, anybody can get signs too, so make sure you pray. But He gives us signs that we as a people ignore. And we holding on to some level of hope to fill a void that really. Only God can feel anyway, and it's taking up space for what He has for us. And that's the part that I feel like a lot of people try to like glaze over or don't acknowledge. And it's like you want somebody to sit next to you and somebody else already sitting there. Like, what do you ask him for? You gotta get them out of the way.

SPEAKER_04 20:21

It make okay, guys. That's what you gotta do.

SPEAKER_05 20:25

Like for real. We say that with love because we know, and I know y'all may delete them.

SPEAKER_04 20:34

I know y'all didn't delete them numbers yet, and you still have time. We still have time. But yeah, so what we need to know in the comments is what what did you what did you guys set for yourselves? Like, okay, everyone no one wants to say New Year's resolution anymore, right? So, what's the goals that you guys have for yourselves in 2026? I'ma say it. What's your new year's resolution? Because it doesn't five um call it what you want, call it whatever you want, like your boundaries, whatever. What are you guys doing? What which part of you has to become better this year? Let us know. Listen when we get richer, we're not gonna tell y'all, but there will be signs. There will be signs. Y'all see some ponies in my backyard. I can't. There will be signs.

SPEAKER_05 21:34

Can I tell you how a turkey jumped across the street? It ain't fly, because if I say he ran out. I don't like South Jersey. ADHD moment. South Jersey. Cause why is a turkey come? I'm looking for deer, maybe. It was a turkey. Yeah, and it scared the crap out of me. A wild turkey. I said, what is that?

SPEAKER_04 21:56

The ending of what's like and look at me just as normal, like you saw that.

SPEAKER_05 22:04

So that must have happened to Happy.

SPEAKER_04 22:06

It had it's they're everywhere.

SPEAKER_05 22:08

I even had geese stop me. Okay, all right. So there is that they chase you and they're they are mean. I don't know. Cause I got them right back there right now. Now they're doing something. I think they mean these. I need them to get away. They all around the phone. That's a that's a noise, they make. Oh my god. They be waking me up at 5 a.m. That's their I need

Start When You Start, Keep Going

SPEAKER_05 22:30

y'all to go. Get away from the water. Because they all around the whole thing. It's a mess. But anyway, y'all. Sorry.

SPEAKER_04 22:39

Yeah, man. So what is your new year's resolution? What what do you have? What do you feel like God has shown you? What do you have in store for yourself? Like, where do you want to go this year? My baby's going to college this year.

SPEAKER_03 22:54

I know that's right. I'm only so excited for him.

SPEAKER_04 22:58

I know. Then next year I got another one going to the Air Force. Right? I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_03 23:05

I'm pretty sure he don't know he's going to the Air Force. That's all I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_04 23:09

But that's where you're going. Either the Navy or the Air Force. That's where you go.

SPEAKER_03 23:14

Don't let Y. You ain't talking about me. You got another child out there. Do you know why I'm talking to boy?

SPEAKER_04 23:26

Any recruiters out there, send your link below. Oh my okay. Let's schedule a meeting.

SPEAKER_03 23:32

Yeah, I can't with you with these boys.

SPEAKER_04 23:36

But yeah, so what so that's what I'm leaving y'all with. Like it's your time, your time is now. Be in competition with no one and do what works for you in this new year. If you had to start on December 31st, okay. If you don't start till January 16th, okay. If you don't start till January 12th, you're gonna have to send me a Cash X for my birthday. Because that was my idea for you to start on my birthday. I can't say just kill her.

SPEAKER_05 24:10

I just be able to. No, it's not. Because they might actually catch. I'm gonna cash it. No, I don't wear my cash at. Well I maybe somebody really resonates with you and they're like, I thought it's a blesser. Well, yeah, it is January 12th. Okay, so make sure you send something increments of 12 so we know that it's from this video.

SPEAKER_03 24:26

Oh yeah, there you go. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but yeah, that's cool.

SPEAKER_05 24:31

I am so excited. Somebody with cash at view. Maybe I'll see. Might see 20. Oh, daddy. Two ice. Might have Dorma. It is like $144.

SPEAKER_04 24:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 24:42

I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 24:44

And it's so crazy because I'm not really doing anything big this year.

SPEAKER_05 24:47

So that's why Dabout to bless you. I'm putting her cash out, damn it. Alright, so what am I gonna leave people with? I'm gonna keep it quick because I I don't.

SPEAKER_03 24:59

What?

Tech Glitch, Grace, And Closing

SPEAKER_03 25:00

What you say? I ain't even gonna tell you. We ain't press record on the thing.

SPEAKER_05 25:13

Okay, we in a loss. We ain't losing. We ain't losing no record in 2023. No, it's all that camera, and that's that. And whatever audio y'all get from that, that's that's just what I will fit. So turn it up. Right. So what I'm gonna leave y'all is listen, things gonna happen. Keep it going. Keep it moving. You got this, you the bestest. And that's it. Because I gotta go press record.

SPEAKER_04 25:35

On the other thing. And this is our last time. No, it's not, it might not be, but we want it to be. Things happen, but we're gonna keep it keep it moving. Right. And we're not gonna be crash outs. We're not about to get upset over this.

SPEAKER_03 25:48

No. They're doing it. Yeah. Alright. Okay. Alright, child.