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Hey Reader

I wrote this at 11:12 pm on January 1st, the first day of 2026.

All day, I've had this lingering anxiety about new year's goals and resolutions and whatnot. A nagging voice in my head keeps whispering,

"You just keep failing. Why bother this year? What's really changed?"

I have a feeling I'm not the only one hearing the wails of failures past right about now.

We can all remember times when we made ambitious (or even modest) goals, only to fail miserably. That struggle—that failure to make the change—can leave a painful bruise, making you nervous to approach that challenge again.

It's easier to imagine physical pain, so I like to think of extreme sports; snowboarding, for example. I've been snowboarding as a kid, and I remember the adrenaline, fear, and joy as I threw myself down hills. I can only imagine the fear I'd feel if I suddenly found myself strapped to a snowboard at the top of a snowy hill. 😵‍💫

Know why? Cuz I haven't touched it in years. Haven't put in a minute of effort. I'd get wiped out.

Take a moment and think back to ten years ago, in 2016. Imagine the resolutions you set for yourself.

Have you changed since then? Have you pushed yourself to new heights, improved or mastered a skill? Do you know yourself better today than you did back then because you've been doing the work of looking inward?

I imagine the answer is yes.

That's because when you try, you gain experience—even if you failed. Especially when you failed. You learned.

The person you are today is not the person who failed in the past.

You've spent the whole life growing, learning, and evolving. Now it's time to face the challenges we previously failed and hurl ourselves down the scary hill once again. Trust in yourself, because you've come this far and you're wiser than you've ever been.

Creativity doesn't deal in broken bones or bloodied noses (at least, it shouldn't), but it does open you up to emotional damage. Exploring your creativity means exploring your inner self, which can be scary because you're letting down your defenses; leaving yourself vulnerable to criticism.

What if people don't like what they see? What if I don't like what I see?

It's an existential question that takes you on a very personal journey.

But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone.

Building Better Creative Habits is my way of helping you tackle 2026 with confidence, clarity, and—most importantly—joy. You've learned what doesn't work for you. Now it's time to try something different.

The first workshop is already available, and our first live session is this Saturday, January 3rd. We're going to reflect, reset, and lay the foundation for a creative year that feels good—not overwhelming.

If you're not a Foxsy member yet, you can get permanent access to all 7 workshops, replays, and resources with a Series Pass.

This is your chance to start 2026 differently—with a plan that builds you up instead of burning you out.

You've got this. And I've got you.

I'll see you soon 😉

Cheers,

Shelby

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