Make New Year's Resolutions Work.

What if the relief we’ve all been waiting for isn’t coming?

 For many of us, the past few years have felt like running a marathon in the dark. Uncertain, exhausting and sometimes lonely.

 Since 2020, we’ve been waiting for something to change: for the world to settle, for life to feel normal again.

 And now that 2026 approaches, the question lingers – Will this year be any better?

 It can be. Just not by chance, by choice. Neuroscience explains why.

 Every January, millions of us, (me included), set resolutions. I have always been a big fan of resolutions; I still am and will continue to do so!

 The science shows why resolutions aren’t always achieved, it has to do with two things – 1) Our planning brain loves clarity; vague goals overload it and 2) Our emotional brain resists sudden change; it sees it as a threat.

 That’s why most research shows that 80% of resolutions fail by February. Our brain doesn’t thrive on pressure; it thrives on progress.

 What works instead – small, emotionally meaningful actions work best. Dopamine, our motivation chemical, spikes when we make progress, not just when we achieve.

 An example. Instead of writing “I will get healthier,” try writing “Walk for 10 minutes after lunch three times a week and “Send one message of gratitude every Friday”.

 These micro-goals build momentum, strengthen neural pathways and create lasting habits. And you get healthier.

 If the past few years taught us anything, it’s that connection and adaptability matter more than control. The world will still throw us curveballs, yet we can train our brains to respond with resilience.

 Here’s how to make resolutions effective:

• Focus on what you can control – Your rituals, your positive mindset, your relationships.

• Practice self-compassion – Replace self-criticism with curiosity, what can you do differently.

• Celebrate progress, not perfection – Every small win rewires our brain for optimism.

 2026 won’t magically erase challenges, but it can be the year we stop waiting for relief and start creating it.

 Neuroscience reminds us: hope isn’t passive, it is built through action. Our brain is a practical thing!

 This year let’s choose goals that engage our passion, habits that ground us to the moment and connections that lift us. Because the future isn’t something we find, it’s something we build, one neural pathway at a time.

 Here’s my commitment for 2026 - I will focus on one small action each day that strengthens connection, a chat with someone different each day. Why? Because in a world that feels uncertain, human connection is the most certain thing we have.

 What about you? What’s one small, meaningful action you’ll take in January to set the tone for your year?

 Let’s talk!

Holidays Can Be Like A Chcklist!

We all know that the holidays can feel like a checklist at times.

Do this.
Buy that.
Go here.

But Christmas isn’t always about doing everything for everyone else; it's also about making time for yourself.

Maybe you’re an active relaxer who loves the beach.
Maybe you’re happiest curled up at home with a good book.
Maybe joy for you is simply a quiet coffee in the morning sun.

We’re all different, and that’s the beauty of life. But the one thing we do share is Joy, Love and Happiness – and they all matter.

And the simplest way to find all three: Do one small thing each day that makes you smile, it doesn’t have to be big or expensive.

Small, consistent acts of joy have the biggest impact on your well-being.

From all of us at WARN International, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a holiday break filled with happiness, however you define it.

We’ll keep posting over the holidays because sharing ideas with you is one small thing that brings us joy.

See you in the New Year.

Let’s talk!

Don't' Cry, Stay Strong!

“Don’t cry.”
“Stay strong.”
“Never let them see you sweat.”

Sound familiar?

For centuries, we’ve worn this armour.

The word human comes from the Latin word humanus, meaning kind, compassionate, real and genuine. Yet somewhere along the way, we changed these rules.

Enter Stoicism. Born to help people endure hardship with reason and resilience, its purpose was noble. But over time, the message twisted: strength became silence, and vulnerability became weakness.

I first noticed it in myself. Years ago, I realised I was holding back emotions, thinking that it would make me stronger.

Then, as a crisis negotiator, I began to see the same pattern in people at their breaking point. They were in deep pain yet fighting to keep a mask of control. That mask didn’t help – it isolated them.

We were never meant to be perfect; we were meant to be connected.

Here’s what neuroscience tells us: emotions are survival tools.

Emotions are chemical signals that prepare the brain and body for action, and when we suppress them, they don’t disappear; they just go deep underground and fester.

Cortisol rises. The prefrontal cortex shuts down. And we don’t tell others how we are feeling.

Sharing emotions, whether verbally or through visible cues, rewires the brain for safety and a sense of belonging. The strongest thing you can do is feel and let others feel with you.

Despite what some may tell you, the world needs more empathy than ever before.

Our brain is now hyper-vigilant and needs to return to our hardwired compassionate self.

Let’s talk!

It Always Happen To Someone Else!

"It always happens to someone else" was my common response when I heard that someone had fallen over. "They just need to harden up", was another. Worse still, I would say, "They are just soft".

So life did what life often does in these situations: it gave me a sneak preview of the dark side as a way of enlightening me. Thanks, life!

Every person that I have met who has had depression is sensitive, caring, thoughtful, and giving. But they are just ordinary people.

Ordinary people who have got busy, who wanted to please, who wanted to help as much as possible, and who forgot about themselves.

Our work scratches at the armour we hide behind, weakening the metal plates that protect us. It keeps us moving forward, running away from our thoughts, and leaves us open and vulnerable. And then suddenly out of nowhere, 'life' comes and slaps us down.

It is often something personal, something that pierces us right in the heart and takes us down. We fight it, but eventually we have to face up to 'life' and we fall into the deep black hole.

It may take a while to get back out, some say twice as long to get out as it does to fall in. "3-to-5", I say - three to five years to climb back out. But the journey is so well worth it.

You learn about yourself, about just how strong you really are. And you are very, very strong indeed. Your mind goes to places that few get the opportunity to go to (and would not want them to go to), and you learn how to live again. It is a second chance at life, a chance to make things right and a chance to help others.

Each of us who has been down this path has a responsibility. A responsibility to help others; to help those who are going through tough times, to provide insight for those who have not been there nor should ever want to, and to ensure that as few people as possible have to fall into the abyss.

Let’s talk!

Acknowledging the Emotion Disarms It!

So often when we are in emotional situations, we go straight to problem-solving. Research shows that men are the worst at this; we just want to help you get on with things and move forward.

Just like a book has a beginning, middle, and end to complete the story, so too do negotiations/mediations. However, the order is different.

Start in the middle. What are you facing right now? Ask the other person, "So what is important to you right now?" Or perhaps, "Let's look at where we are at this moment." This brings everyone to the same state and focuses on the topic.

The next step is to go back in time to examine how you got to the present point.

By doing this - and by acknowledging the emotion they’re experiencing - you allow the other person to explain their situation, they will tell you how they 'feel' about things as the story unfolds, and you allow them to vent. Because they vent as they talk to you, their logic brain will engage. An acknowledged emotion is disarmed.

The third step is to move on with a mutual agreement. So often we suggest something first and wait for the response. If you have allowed the other person to vent adequately and have listened with active listening skills, you would by now have established rapport.

Stop problem-solving, allow an open discussion, and go back over the past before moving forward. Your negotiation/mediation will be much easier.

Let's talk!