Be honest: Are you planning to set the exact same resolution this year that you set last year?
Maybe it’s "finally run a marathon," "learn French," or "cut out sugar entirely." You’ve written it down in 2023, 2024, and now you’re penning it in for 2026.
We tend to think that perseverance is always a virtue. But in psychology, there is a dangerous trap called the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It’s the phenomenon where we stick with an endeavor simply because we’ve already invested time, money, or effort into it—even if it no longer serves us.
If you are dragging a heavy bag of "rollover resolutions" into the New Year, you aren’t building a roadmap for success. You’re building a shrine to your past failures.
Here is why it is time to officially quit your old goals.
The Weight of "Carrying Over"
When you carry a goal over from year to year, it comes with baggage. It subconsciously tells your brain, "I’m already failing at this."
You aren't starting from scratch with excitement; you are starting from a deficit with guilt.
This mental clutter takes up valuable processing power. It creates a background hum of anxiety—a feeling that you "should" be doing something else. This drains your energy before you’ve even started your day.
It’s Okay to Change Your Mind
We are often afraid to drop a goal because we equate "stopping" with "quitting." And we are taught that winners never quit.
But you are not the same person you were in January 2025. Your priorities have shifted. Your lifestyle has changed. The version of you that wanted to train for a triathlon might have had more free time than the version of you today who is prioritizing career growth or family.
Dropping a goal isn't failure; it's a strategic pivot.
The "Pruning" Method: How to Let Go
Just like a gardener prunes dead branches to help the tree grow, you need to prune your goals to find focus.
Try this exercise:
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Look at your list of "Rollover Resolutions."
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Read them out loud.
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Pay attention to your body. Do you feel a spark of excitement? Or do you feel a heaviness in your chest?
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If it feels heavy, cross it out. Officially.
Making Space for What Matters (With a Little Help)
Letting go can be surprisingly stressful. We often feel a spike of anxiety when we admit we aren't going to do something we promised ourselves we would.
If you feel anxious about clearing your slate, this is where tonic herbs can support you.
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Reishi for the "Letting Go" Anxiety: Reishi is the ultimate grounding mushroom. It helps calm the nervous system and manage stress. Taking a dose of our 8-Mushroom Matrix can help you settle into the feeling of release, turning anxiety into relief.
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Lion’s Mane for New Clarity: Once you’ve cleared the old goals, you need to see the new ones clearly. Lion's Mane supports cognitive function, helping you identify what actually excites you right now.
The Action Step
You cannot fill a cup that is already full. By holding onto old, stagnant goals, you are taking up space that could be used for something that genuinely lights you up.
Your challenge: Look at your old goals. If they no longer serve the person you are becoming in 2026, let them go.
Make space for the new.
Grab our Vitality Stack now and help support the new you.
