{"id":23900,"date":"2026-01-02T15:08:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T15:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/?p=23900"},"modified":"2026-02-26T13:45:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T13:45:18","slug":"a-gentle-start-to-the-year-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/?p=23900","title":{"rendered":"A gentle start to the year 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83c\udf3f Conscious Living \u2013 January 2026<\/h1>\n

A gentle start to the year<\/strong><\/p>\n

This January has been about\u00a0beginnings, uncertainty, courage, and the quiet ripple effects of growth<\/strong>. From fog-covered mountains to back-to-school courage and nervous system insights, our community has been exploring what it means to grow – consciously.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\ud83c\udfac\u00a0Lift Yourself, Lift Others<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

I recently shared a short video inspired by\u00a0Monk Dandapani<\/strong>, who used a simple tissue to show that when you lift yourself, everyone around you rises too.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reminder to release the burden of fixing others and instead focus on your own growth – because your rising\u00a0creates ripples far beyond you.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

\u2728 January Highlights<\/h2>\n

\ud83c\udf04 When You Can\u2019t See the Mountain<\/strong>
Fog reminded us that just because the path isn\u2019t clear doesn\u2019t mean it isn\u2019t there. Clarity often forms as we walk.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udd25 Destruction & New Creation<\/strong>
Letting go is not failure – it\u2019s fertile ground for what\u2019s next. Growth doesn\u2019t need to be rushed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\u2693\ufe0f The Nervous System as the Anchor<\/strong>
Our poll showed a strong desire for nervous system care. Regulation creates the conditions for awareness and healing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\ud83c\udf92 Back to School Courage<\/strong>
For young people starting school: growth isn\u2019t about perfection – it\u2019s about showing up with courage.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83c\udfa5 New This Year: TikTok<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve started sharing short Conscious Living reflections on\u00a0TikTok\u00a0<\/strong>bite-sized moments of insight and grounding.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Follow along here:<\/strong>\u00a0https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@consciousliving_eswatini?_r=1&_t=ZS-93a4Db3oyn4<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83e\udd1d Join the Conscious Living Community<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

If you haven\u2019t already, join our\u00a0Conscious Living WhatsApp channel<\/strong>\u00a0to see all January content and take part in the community poll.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf2\u00a0Scan the QR code below to join:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
A gentle way to\u00a0close January<\/strong>\u00a0– and a grounded way to\u00a0step into February.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n

\ud83e\uddd8\u00a0Practising Self-Connection – Start Small\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Self-connection doesn\u2019t require a perfect routine or long stretches of silence.
It begins with\u00a0small, intentional moments of presence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Try one today:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    60-second check-in:<\/strong>\u00a0hand on heart, take a breath, ask\u00a0\u201cWhat am I feeling right now?\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Wait and listen.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Name your need:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cWhat do I need in this moment?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    One intentional choice:<\/strong>\u00a0do one small thing that honours your energy\u00a0(a walk, a boundary, a glass of water, a breath).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Which of these feels most doable for you today?<\/em><\/p>\n

    When you meet yourself, you change how you meet the world.<\/em>\u00a0\ud83c\udf31<\/p>\n

    Consciously,<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n

    Bronwyn Russo
    \nClinical Psychologist
    \nM.A. Clin. Psych. (Curtin University, Australia)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
Please note that I offer\u00a0consultations both\u00a0virtually\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0in-person\u00a0<\/em>and can be contacted for an appointment on (+268) 76858588 or info@versionx.bronwynrusso.com
\n…Visit the\u00a0website for more information: versionx.bronwynrusso.com<\/p>\n

…
\nOffice Physical Address:
\nMalagwane Gardens
\n239 Malagwane Hill
\nMbabane
\nEswatini<\/p>\n

Kindly note:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0the office is an appointment only space and appointments are\u00a0made via the above phone and email contact details only.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\ud83c\udf3f Conscious Living \u2013 January 2026 A gentle start to the year This January has been about\u00a0beginnings, uncertainty, courage, and the quiet ripple effects of growth. From fog-covered mountains to back-to-school courage and nervous system insights, our community has been exploring what it means to grow – consciously. \ud83c\udfac\u00a0Lift Yourself, Lift Others I recently shared…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conscious-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23900"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23900"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24189,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23900\/revisions\/24189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionx.bronwynrusso.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}