The start of a New Year holds a universal meaning—a symbolic blank page inviting us to step forward with intention. Yet, for many of us, the weight of exhaustion, trauma, or fear can make this new beginning feel like an impossible task.

In my book, Born Out of Fear, I share a powerful reminder:

“The epic story of tomorrow can’t be written if it ends today.”

I was driving when I felt Joy!

Joy.

It might sound banal, as we say in French. But if you’ve experienced trauma—especially childhood trauma—moments of peace or fleeting happiness can happen. They come like a soft breeze, and then they’re gone. But joy? Joy with a capital J—the kind that stays, that roots itself deep, bringing calm to the mind, body, and soul—that kind of joy can feel almost impossible to reach.

For so long, I wondered: How does joy feel? How do you recognize it when your heart has carried so much weight?

Every year, as time marks its passage, I choose a single word to guide me through the next 13 mooncycles.

This word becomes my mantra, my promise, and my map for the journey ahead. For this cycle, aligned with the Gregorian calendar of 2025, the word that came to me is Breakthrough

Why Breakthrough?

As I sat quietly and listened to the resonance of this word, its vibration electrified my entire being. This word holds energy—alive, powerful, and undeniable. Breakthrough signifies a release: the moment when what once felt stuck begins to move. It is the push through barriers that limit us, the invitation to step boldly into something greater.