In this New Year’s monologue, the speaker reflects on the tradition of choosing a personal “word of the year.” After initially considering “generous,” they settle on the word “fulfilled” to guide 2026. They define fulfillment as an internal sense of completeness that is distinct from external success, emphasizing that one can be successful without feeling fulfilled. The speaker links fulfillment to gratitude, presence, generosity, and a conscious decision to stop chasing external markers like success, adventure, or even the pursuit of fulfillment itself. The talk concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their own words in the comments, fostering a communal reflection on personal values for the new year.
Chapters
Good morning, everyone. Happy 2026. It's the new year. How could I not do a moment of yes on January 1st of 2026? So here we go. Awake, alive, alert, grateful. Word for the year. What is your word for the year for 2026? We did. I mean, it's the second year in a row we've done it. Maybe that's the start of a tradition. But we went to the beach again yesterday and just let everyone spread out, ponder what your word is for the year, write it in the sand, and then we just kind of go around to each person. They kind of share what their word is, and that's it. Um, so I thought the last week, week and a half, I think the word that was sitting with me was generous. Um, and I felt like, you know, the genesis with that is, um, just wanting to make sure regardless of how the year is going financially or anything, that my intention is generous, um, and stay generous. And so as I got standing over the canvas in the sand, um, the word satisfied came to me and I was like, oh, satisfied, like And I wrote satisfied in the sand, and then I, I, I wiped it out, and I was like, it's not really satisfied, um, that I'm really— my intent is, but, uh, fulfilled. So the word is for 2026 is fulfilled. Fulfilled from a sense for me is, um, regardless, again, regardless of what's going on, uh, to feel a sense that whatever I'm doing, there's fulfillment. In it, and that I am fulfilled, right? I'm already fulfilled. And what— so I'm not in pursuit of more, um, satisfaction or more stuff or more, you know, just things, uh, to feel that whatever I'm doing or not doing, that, that I feel a sense of fulfillment about it, um, and that success and fulfillment are not always the same thing. Um, but fulfillment is the more important of the two. So, and if you're fulfilled, you're probably feeling successful. Yeah, you can be successful without being fulfilled. Yeah. Um, so fulfillment for me for 2026, to just— which is going to force me to be more grateful, to be more present, hopefully be more generous, um, and stop chasing, right? Stop chasing. Stop chasing success. Stop chasing adventure. Stop chasing fulfillment and just be fulfilled. So there you have it. That's my moment of yes for January 1st, 2026. I would love to hear yours if you put it in the comments. Have an awesome day, everybody.
