My Words for 2026: Discipline & Fearless
- carolinedotts
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Every January, I choose one to two words to guide the year ahead.
Not resolutions.
Not rigid goals.
Words I can return to when things feel busy, uncertain, or stretching.
This year, my words found me during a workout.
At my new(ish) gym, D1 Training, the walls are lined with words that reflect the mindset and habits of a D1 athlete. Not just physical strength, but discipline, consistency, and courage. During a particularly hard set of Med Ball Slams this morning, two words stood out to me that got me through those 5 tough sets:
Discipline & Fearless
They felt familiar. And they felt earned.
Why Discipline and Fearless in 2026
As Strengths On Site turns FIVE this year, these words feel less aspirational and more descriptive of what it takes to build something sustainable. Research consistently shows that roughly half of small businesses do not make it past their first five years. Longevity does not come from motivation alone. It comes from consistency, adaptability, and showing up even when the work is quiet and unglamorous.
Most days, my work energizes me. It rarely feels like “work” in the traditional sense. But there are seasons that require discipline in its truest form.
Discipline is:
Following through when no one is watching, especially on those "admin" days of book-keeping, paying bills, and mapping out my calendar for the week ahead
Building systems instead of relying on willpower
Staying committed when the novelty wears off, and trust me, the novelty does wear off sometimes!
Discipline is the steady drumbeat that keeps things moving forward. Work and workouts included!
Where Fearless Shows Up
Fearless looks different.
Fearless is saying yes before you have every answer, which appeals to my Activator CliftonStrength! It is trying something new and letting it be imperfect (which doesn't sit quite as well with my Maximizer strength, but I'm getting there!). It is choosing growth over comfort.
For me, that has meant:
Starting my company 5 years ago without a formal "plan" or even business cards
Testing new ideas like Walk & Talks on my Instagram page
Launching my Amazing Affirmation Cards and putting something tangible into the world
Leaning into learning Wix, Quickbooks, ChatGPT, and everything else that comes with running a small business
Fearless does not mean reckless. It means trusting yourself enough to begin.
The Balance That Creates Momentum
This balance is not new for me. It mirrors how I have always approached growth in my personal life. Fearless showed up when I signed up for my first Half Ironman in 2017. Discipline carried me through training days when motivation (and energy) was low. Fearless nudges me into new arenas. Discipline keeps me consistent enough to follow through.
One without the other falls short.
Discipline without fearlessness becomes rigid.
Fearlessness without discipline becomes scattered.
But together? Together, they create the magic and momentum that lasts.
Choosing Words With Intention
These two words have lived with me for decades. Yet, in 2026, I am choosing to channel them with clarity and intention.
To honor the work that built this business. To stay open to new ideas, new formats, and new risks.
To let consistency and courage work together. To say more yes to the scary and more no to the things that drain me - even if they are "safer".
If you are choosing words for the year ahead, ask yourself:
What will steady me when the days are long?
What will challenge me to grow when comfort feels tempting?
What resonates deep within me right here, right now in this season of life?
For me, it is Discipline and Fearless. And I am ready to channel them for my favorite year yet!
Your Turn
What word or words are guiding you in 2026?What made you choose them?
Leave a comment or send me a message. I would love to hear the story behind your words.
Always rooting for you!
Caroline
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