From Whitewater to Wisdom:
Launching the New Year with Conscious Intent
Peter and I met in the most remarkable way.
I was seeking to balance the feminine energy on our July Legacy Hour panel on Inner Sustainability, but couldn’t think of a male business coach who was both successful and genuinely kind, compassionate, and respectful. So, I turned to a trusted friend, who immediately suggested Peter Matthies.
Because I’m very intentional about whom I refer, I wanted to learn more about Peter. My first step was an online search—and what I found astonished me. I watched an interview he had done on a podcast and kept thinking, He feels so familiar. As I listened, my mind went to Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott, the mentor who trained me in life coaching. I thought, These two really should know each other. Then I wondered, Do they? Finally, curiosity led me to type both of their names into the search bar.
Sure enough, there it was: Peter had been featured in a documentary film about coaching that Dr. Cherie co-produced eight years ago—Leap! I had seen the film when it first came out, which explains why he seemed familiar. But because of his accent, I had assumed he lived in Germany. To my surprise, he has actually lived in Santa Barbara for the past 21 years!
Our first call brought an immediate connection grounded in shared values. As we continued getting to know each other, I learned that several of my friends are also close friends of Peter’s!
I hope you enjoy the wisdom he brings to consciously launching the New Year. Take it away, Peter.
In a time where everything—global conflicts, economic uncertainty, and the endless scroll of social media—competes for our attention, consciously launching the New Year is more than a nice intention. It may be one of the few ways to stay centered, purposeful, and empowered in an increasingly volatile world.
I have the privilege of working with leaders from around the globe. Over the past years, I’ve been hearing the same quiet pain: people are pushed to their limits, overwhelmed, with no relief in sight. Even college students, who we imagine having the time of their lives, are struggling. Last year, 22% of them used antidepressants, nearly triple the rate from 2007.
It begs the question:
How do we avoid getting swept away by the whitewater world we’re living in, and instead use this moment as an opportunity? And what does consciousness have to do with it?
We all seek comfort and well-being; but it’s through challenge that we grow. Sailing on a sunny day is lovely; but our skills are forged when the wind picks up and the waves begin to test us. This moment in history is one of those windy, wave-tossed moments. Our opportunity for growth—personally, for our relationships, and for our collective future.
Perhaps this is exactly the time we’re being asked to rethink our priorities, look honestly at our fears, and recalibrate our focus on the world we want to create. A time for introspection, vulnerability, deep connection, growth—and taking action.
Einstein famously said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”
Working harder, pushing more, and trying to solve today’s issues with yesterday’s thinking will not create the world we long for. In fact, it’s exhausting us, depressing us, and often impacting both our relationships and our health.
Which brings us back to consciously launching the New Year: our opportunity to choose whether we want to be drivers or passengers in the years to come.
How to Consciously Launch Your New Year
So how do we begin? A resolution alone isn’t enough. Most fade by mid-February. And while scented candles and green juice cleanses are wonderful, they’re not enough to shift the deeper layers of our lives. Here are four powerful and practical starting points for launching your New Year with consciousness and intention:
1. Your Self
Transitionary times reveal what is not truthful and authentic. Things suddenly surface, which were hidden for years; and many people are realizing they simply cannot continue doing what they’ve been doing. It doesn’t feel truthful anymore. If you’re feeling this, try a weekly journaling practice and ask:
- Where am I holding back, dragging my feet or selling myself short?
- Where do I need to speak my truth?
- Where do I want to show up more fully in my authentic power?
Often the answers are waiting to be heard. All they need is a little space, courage and, sometimes, support.
2. Your Relationships
Studies show that fulfilling relationships are the number one determinant of a happy life. Reflect on the people you choose to spend your time with:
- Do they lift you up or drain you?
- Do your relationships align with who you’re becoming?
- Which courageous conversations are asking to be had?
In the New Year, choose the people who support you in who you want to become.
3. Your Contribution
We all carry a purpose and a unique voice that wants to be expressed. In times like these, we need all hands-on deck—all voices to be heard. Ask yourself:
- What do I want to spend my creative energy on this year?
- What gives me the wind beneath my wings?
- What gifts do others see in me that I have taken for granted?
Often, our unique gifts have become second nature, and we’ve long discounted their true value. Bring them back to life. Let them shine.
4. Your Divinity
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, how can you deepen your connection with the transcendent? For example, in AA's 12-step program, this connection is the step that makes the entire program work. The noise of the world will always draw you back to the earth plane. Your transcendent practice and connection to something that’s beyond ourselves—whether meditation, nature, music, or the simple act of looking into your toddler’s eyes—brings you back to the calm eye of the storm.
Many leaders confide in me about their vulnerabilities, their worries, and the quiet tug toward something deeper. They speak of a place where the Doing subsides, making room to simply Be. May your New Year be filled with light, clarity, and the centered presence of your Being from which you can bring your best self into the world.
To dive deeper, visit www.consciousbusinessinstitute.com or enjoy Plan BE – A Professional’s Guide to Authentic Success at www.planbe.live.
Contact: [email protected]
