The Ghost of the Constructive Critic…mas Past

A gentle bridge into the year ahead

Following 12 Days of Money, Mind and Meaning, this is not a “next steps” list.

It’s a pause.

A moment to take everything that surfaced - the reflections, the discomfort, the clarity, the quiet shifts - and decide how you want to carry it forward.

This bonus piece is about finding constructive ways to cope with the noise of the festive season.

The opinions.

The well-meant advice.

The comments that linger longer than we’d like.

Not by pushing harder.

But by choosing intention over pressure.

This is where the Focus Word comes in.

Not as a goal.

Not as a resolution.

But as a steady companion for the year ahead.

A familiar festive pattern

The festive period is often a mixed bag.

Moments of warmth.

Unexpected tenderness.

Great conversations that linger.

And then…

The unsolicited opinions.

The well-intended advice.

The comments you didn’t ask for, but somehow still received - neatly sandwiched between a starter and a main course.

In vino veritas, they say.

And there we are, the lucky receivers of “constructive criticism”, lightly sweetened with chocolate, wine, or the promise that it’s only said because they care.

And so, it passes.

Until next Christmas.

Or does it?

Because when the decorations come down, what remains is not the comment itself - but what we do with it.

Feedback is information, not instruction

Whether delivered gracefully or clumsily, feedback is still information.

And information gives us choice.

We can carry it around for another year.

Replaying it.

Second-guessing ourselves.

Letting it quietly reinforce doubts we already hold.

Or we can ask a different question.

What if, instead of simmering in self-pity or defensiveness, we used this moment to decide what will work better for us next year?

Not ambitious resolutions.

Not long lists destined to be buried under urgency and expectation.

But small, intentional shifts.

Because it’s rarely the big goals that change our outcomes.

It’s the patterns we repeat without noticing.

When feedback goes unused, it becomes weight

The most taxing pieces of information are not the critical ones.

They are the ones we never use to make a difference.

That’s how people get stuck:

repeating the same money decisions

tolerating the same relationship dynamics

doubting themselves before they even begin

This is normal.

But it does not have to become the norm.

To improve the odds, we don’t need more pressure.

We need more substance.

Substance in our thinking.

In our emotional awareness.

In our money conversations.

And that’s where a different kind of planning comes in.

Why resolutions fail - and what works instead

Resolutions often collapse under their own weight.

They’re built on:

• pressure

• rigid expectations

• all-or-nothing energy

• very little compassion

But a single word?

A word is steady.

A word is supportive.

A word becomes a compass.

It doesn’t shout.

It doesn’t demand perfection.

It gently asks:

Does this align with who I’m becoming?

Choosing your 2026 Focus Word

Your focus word is not about achievement.

It’s about how you want your life to feel.

Not:

• What do I want to prove?

• What should I fix?

• What will impress others?

But:

• What do I want my life to feel like next year?

When you follow the feeling, the word emerges naturally.

People often choose words like:

• Clarity

• Focus

• Ease

• Courage

• Growth

• Balance

• Enough

• Confidence

• Stability

• Freedom

• Rest

Your word does not need to be impressive.

It does not need to look good on social media.

It only needs to feel true.

Your word is a mirror of your needs - not a measure of your worth.

Today’s practice

Choose your 2026 Focus Word.

Write it somewhere visible:

• your phone background

• a sticky note

• a journal

• a mirror

Let it quietly guide your:

• financial decisions

• boundaries

• habits

• energy

• time

• emotional wellbeing

• self-belief

When things feel noisy or overwhelming, return to your word.

It will ground you - remind you who you are becoming.

A closing note

Thank you for journeying through the 12 Days of Money, Mind and Meaning.

You’ve reflected.

Released.

Clarified.

Protected.

Included.

Anchored.

And now, you get to choose how you move forward.

With intention.

With compassion.

With clarity.

And we are only getting started.

If you want to explore these themes further, the HealthyHer Money Mind podcast is now available on all major platforms. We talk openly about money confidence, emotional wellbeing and rebuilding trust with money, without judgment.