As a soft skills trainer, the most common question I’ve been asked this year – across ages, industries, and backgrounds – is:
“How do I cope with stress and anxiety?”

And my answer has always been the same:
We cannot eliminate stress and anxiety… but we can learn to control it.

In fact, not all stress is bad.
Sometimes, when someone questions your potential or says you’re “not good enough,” that very moment becomes the spark that pushes you to rise, grow, and prove them wrong. That is good stress.
It transforms us.

But here’s the truth we often forget:
– Most of our stress comes from overthinking what others may think about us.
– Most of our anxiety comes from expecting a negative outcome that never actually happens.
– Most of our worry is spent on events that never occur at all.

And all that emotional energy?
A complete waste.

So, as you step into 2026, make yourself a promise:

– No matter what happens,
– No matter what people say or think,
– No matter how I look on the outside,

* I choose to be comfortable in my own skin.
* I choose to stop seeking validation.
* I choose to be confident, healthy, grounded, and genuinely happy.

When you look into the mirror this new year, may you see someone who is:
– Happy from within
– Calm despite the chaos
– Growing at your own pace
– And proud of how far you have come

Here’s to a Happy New Year – and more importantly,
a Happy New You.

Wishing each one of you a year filled with courage, clarity, and inner peace.