Does 2026 feel different to you too?

Here’s something I’ve been noticing since the beginning of 2026, and you may recognise it too.

A lot of us expected 2026 to begin with clarity and momentum.

Instead, for many people - including me - it’s started with questions.

Not necessarily crisis-level questions.
But quieter ones. The kind that sit in the background while you’re getting on with work, family life, and everything else.

Politically, the world feels unsettled.
Technologically, AI is evolving at a pace that can feel both energising and overwhelming - sometimes on the same day.

And if you’re a working mum, you might be noticing how none of this stays “out there.”

It has a way of filtering into your thinking. Your plans. Your confidence. Your sense of direction.

I’ve had a lot of conversations recently that sound a bit like this:

“I didn’t expect the year to start this way.”

For some people, January brought very real disruption - job loss, health and financial challenges. For others, life looks mostly the same on the outside… but something feels different internally, maybe even a bit…off?

And if that’s not you - if you’re feeling grounded, clear, and energised right now - that’s genuinely wonderful.

This is simply an invitation for those who might be feeling a little less certain.

So let me ask you gently:

How has 2026 been for you so far?

Not how it should be going.
Not how it appears from the outside.
But how it’s actually felt.

I ask because I’ve been reflecting on this myself.

December ended strong for me. Momentum was high. Things felt aligned.
January, however, asked different questions.

A launch I was excited about didn’t land the way I’d hoped. At the same time, the pace of change in AI nudged me to pause and rethink what I offer - and how I can serve you best in a landscape that’s shifting so quickly.

It wasn’t dramatic.
But it was uncomfortable.

Which led me to an insight I wanted to share.

If you’re feeling slightly out of sync, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.
Often, it means something is changing faster than your internal compass has had time to recalibrate.

There are a few reasons this shows up so commonly right now:

First, the speed of technological change has outpaced most of our existing ways of coping. Even if you’re curious and optimistic about AI, constant evolution demands cognitive and emotional bandwidth.

Second, not all disruption is loud. Sometimes the most important shifts happen quietly - when old goals stop motivating you, or when the plan you had no longer fits quite as well.

And third, in times of uncertainty, it’s very easy to slip into reaction mode. More learning. More doing. More “keeping up.”

That can feel productive - but it often pulls us further away from clarity.

What I’m learning (and relearning) is that recentring matters more than reacting.

Not by stepping away from ambition or growth.
But by pausing long enough to choose where your energy goes next; instead of letting circumstances decide for you.

That’s exactly why we recorded our latest podcast episode.

In it, my co-host Sabine — who is also a mindset coach — talks about how to recentre yourself when the world feels noisy or uncertain. She also shares a short, simple exercise you can do straight away to reconnect with what you actually want this year.

Not what your to-do list demands.
Not what the algorithm rewards.
But what feels aligned for you, now.

🎧 If this interests you, you can listen to the episode here.

If you decide to listen, here’s how I’d approach it:

Start with curiosity, not expectation.
Do the exercise once — even imperfectly.
Notice whether you feel a little more grounded afterwards. That’s often the first signal.

Clarity doesn’t usually arrive all at once.
It arrives in small moments of steadiness.

Periods of global change often invite personal recalibration. That’s not a failure - it’s a response.

And if you feel like sharing, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
You can simply hit reply and tell me - how has this year really started for you?

No pressure.
No need to have answers.

Just a check-in.

Warmly,
Abha