Okay, so as I sit down to write this, I’m very aware of how full this year has been.

Not just busy.
Not just productive.
But full in the deepest sense.

Full of stretching.
Full of quiet courage.
Full of moments where I had to trust the next step before I could see it clearly.

And I want to start with something simple but important:

The only real difference between the old year and the new year is the number of hours you slept between them.

That’s it.

There’s no magical reset button at midnight.
No sudden permission slip that says now you’re allowed to begin.

The truth is, you can start anything you want… at any point in your life.

So, if there’s one thing I hope you take from this message, it’s this:

You don’t have to wait. You never did.

 

Taking Stock: What This Year Has Really Been About

When I look back over this past year, I don’t just see milestones or checklists.

I see alignment.

I see decisions made with intention.
I see growth that came through discomfort.
I see faith being tested… and strengthened.

And honestly, this year has been deeply rooted in the heart of what we do at Coach Training and Tools.

Not just training coaches, but equipping people to:

• sit with truth
• hold space ethically
• walk with others through real life, real trauma, real transformation

 

This Year Through the Lens of The Empowerment Cycle

If I had to describe this year using our own framework, it would look something like this:

1) Awareness

There was a deep awareness phase this year.
An awareness of what truly matters.
Of where my energy belongs.
Of what I can no longer compromise on.

2) Ownership

Then came ownership.
Owning the call on my life.
Owning the responsibility that comes with teaching and certifying coaches.
Owning the fact that certain programmes weren’t just “ideas” anymore… they were assignments.

3) Action

And finally, action.
Some bold.
Some terrifying.
Some beautifully aligned.

And that brings me to something incredibly close to my heart.

 

A Moment of Gratitude: Thank You for Walking With Me

I want to pause here and say this properly.

Thank you.

To every student who trusted me enough to walk the journey of the Women Empowerment Coach Certification… thank you.

You showed up.
You did the inner work.
You asked brave questions.
You allowed yourself to be shaped, challenged, and stretched.

And more than that, you believed in the vision when it was still forming.

And to those who encouraged me, nudged me, and sometimes gently pushed me to finally launch the programme that has lived in my heart for so long… the Christian Life Coach Certification… thank you.

You reminded me that faith and professionalism can walk hand in hand.
That ethical, trauma-informed coaching and Christ-centred values are not opposites.
They’re deeply complementary.

Launching this programme has been one of the most meaningful steps I’ve taken, and I could not have done it without the support, prayers, and belief of the people around me.

Please know that I don’t take that lightly.

 

A Story From This Year That Still Stays With Me

Let me share a short story that captures the heart of this year.

One of my students, we’ll call her Nadine, said something during a session that I still think about.

“I always thought empowerment meant becoming fearless. But now I realise it means becoming honest.”

That sentence sums up so much of what we teach.

Because empowerment isn’t about bravado or confidence for show.
It’s about telling the truth, first to yourself, and then in how you live.

Nadine didn’t suddenly feel “ready” this year.
She felt called.
And she moved anyway.

That’s the kind of courage I’ve seen over and over again this year.

And honestly, it’s been an honour to witness.

 

What We’re Carrying Into the New Year

As this year draws to a close, I’m not interested in resolutions that come from pressure.

I’m interested in alignment.

Here’s what I’m intentionally carrying into the new year:

• A deeper commitment to trauma-informed, ethical coaching
• Continued refinement of the MindShift Accelerator Process™
• Expanding access to tools like the Overcoming Impostor Syndrome Mini Training
• Supporting coaches not just to qualify, but to practise with integrity and confidence
• Creating spaces where faith, psychology, and emotional truth can coexist safely

And most importantly:

A reminder that you don’t need a calendar change to begin again.

You can begin on a Tuesday.
In the middle of a year.
After a setback.
After a rest.
After a deep breath.

Start now.

 

A Gentle Reflection for You

Before we step fully into the new year, I’d love to invite you to pause with these questions.

No pressure. Just honesty.

• What did this past year teach me about myself that I don’t want to forget?
• What am I proud of, even if no one else saw it?
• What am I ready to release, not because it failed, but because I’ve outgrown it?
• If I stopped waiting for “the right time,” what would I begin now?
• What kind of support do I want to allow into my life this coming year?

Take these slowly.
Let them land where they need to.

 

A Resource to Support You as You Step Forward

If you’re moving into the new year wanting more emotional clarity, more self-awareness, or better tools to navigate internal patterns, I want to remind you of something we’ve created for you. We have added an audio recording for those on the move.

From Helper to Christian Life Coach

It’s a practical, gentle resource designed to help you:

Support people biblically and ethically, without burnout or overstepping.

• Part 1: The Helper Trap
• Part 2: What Christian Coaching Is, and What It Is Not
• Part 3: The 3 Boundaries That Protect You
• Part 4: The Step-by-Step Path to Becoming a Christian Life Coach
• PART 5: Invitation

You can download it for free here: https://8b77-lee.systeme.io/lead-mag-sage-97d3a273-e93858f0-d251db97

And if you’d like to explore our programmes and resources in your own time, you’re always welcome here: https://coachtrainingandtools.com/

 

If you’d like to share, I would genuinely love to hear from you.

What are you carrying into the new year?

What are you choosing to leave behind?

You’re welcome to message me, reply, or simply sit with the reflection quietly.

All of it counts.

 

As this year comes to a close, I just want to say this:

Thank you for being part of my world.
Thank you for trusting the work.
Thank you for supporting the vision.

I’m deeply grateful.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas filled with peace, rest, and meaning… and a Prosperous New Year that meets you exactly where you are and gently leads you forward.

Lots of love,
Lee-Anne