Ride the Year with Awareness – Let the Year of the Horse Propel You
- Brainz Magazine
- Jan 13
- 4 min read
Tanya Tsikkos is an innovative jewelry designer who promotes mental health and well-being. COVID-19 left her with emotional challenges, and she found a way to cope and to improve her mental health with her jewelry creations and empowering messages.
Every January, there’s a quiet pressure, sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious, suggesting we should start over, do more, become better. I’ve never felt entirely comfortable with that idea. For me, January isn’t about wiping the slate clean. It’s about pausing long enough to notice where I am, what I’ve learned, and who I’m becoming.
This year, with the energy of the Horse guiding us, I’ve been thinking a lot about movement and momentum, not rushed or forced, but intentional. The Horse doesn’t move blindly, it moves with presence, strength, and instinct. And that feels like the invitation of this year: to move forward with awareness, carrying what matters, releasing what doesn’t, and remembering who we are beneath the noise.
Here are five simple ways I've found helpful practices I return to myself as a way of riding the year consciously, rather than being pulled along by it.
Begin with reflection, not resolution
Before I plan anything, I reflect. I look back not to judge or dwell but to notice. I often sit with a notebook and write about moments that mattered: conversations that stayed with me, challenges that shaped me, small, quiet joys. Recently, it was something as simple as a spontaneous walk with my dog, noticing winter light filtering through bare trees.
Reflection grounds us. It reminds us that growth is already happening, often in ways we don’t immediately recognise. Like a Horse finding its footing, reflection helps us move forward with steadiness and clarity.
Reconnect with your core values
When life feels noisy or slightly out of alignment, I’ve learned it’s usually because I’ve drifted away from my values. January is when I consciously reconnect with them. For me, curiosity, compassion, and creativity are non-negotiable.
I return to them when making decisions about work, relationships, or how I spend my time. Asking, ‘Does this reflect who I am?’ has become one of the most grounding questions I know. Values act like reins: they don’t restrict us, they guide us, helping us move forward with confidence and integrity.
Listen to your energy, not your calendar
I’ve stopped believing that productivity should dictate my worth. Instead, I listen to my energy. When I’m tired, it’s information. When I feel restless, it’s often a call to create or move.
Recently, I had planned to power through a task-heavy morning, but my energy felt low. I chose a slower start, tea, journalling, sunlight, and by the afternoon, everything flowed more naturally. Like the Horse, we move best when we honour rhythm rather than force momentum.
Cultivate awareness through small, intentional practices
I’ve learned that change doesn’t come from grand gestures alone. It’s built quietly, through small, intentional practices. A few minutes of writing, a mindful walk, and a conscious breath before reacting, these moments anchor the day.
They remind me that awareness isn’t something we achieve once, it’s something we return to. Over time, these small practices create their own momentum, carrying us forward steadily and sustainably.
Embrace patience with yourself and the year ahead
Growth rarely follows a straight line. Some seasons feel expansive, others feel slow or uncertain. I remind myself often that I’m allowed to move at my own pace.
The Horse teaches us that momentum doesn’t come from rushing, but from trust, presence, and courage. When we allow the year to unfold naturally, we create space for depth, learning, and unexpected beauty.
Just remember
You don’t need to discard your past, just shed what no longer fits. Carry the wisdom forward, release the weight, and trust that you don’t need to chase a distant version of yourself. By moving with awareness, you’re already becoming.
Ride the year with presence. Let the energy of the Horse carry you forward with freedom, bravery, and a deep remembering of who you are at your core.
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Tanya Tsikkos, Innovative Jewelry Designer & CEO of EntityUK
Tanya Tsikkos is an innovative jewellery designer who promotes mental health and wellbeing. COVID-19 left her with emotional challenges, and she found a way to cope and to improve her mental health with her jewellery creations and empowering messages. She has since dedicated her life to helping others to always feel good and empowered . She is the CEO of EntityUK, an online fashion jewellery company that combines jewellery with empowerment in each design. Her mission is to inspire, uplift, and empower all to live their best lives with confidence and style!
