How Can This Be Easy? The Question I’m Taking Into 2026
It means I’m done making things more complicated than they need to be — especially around the things that matter most.
Every December, I choose a word—or sometimes a phrase—for the year ahead. In past years, my words have been things like gratitude, hope, heal(th), consciously intentional, and delight.
This year, I’ve chosen: How can this be easy?
And before my inner overachiever has a chance to file an objection (because yes, she is still alive and occasionally very loud), I want to be clear about what I mean.
“Easy” doesn’t mean lazy.
It doesn’t mean I don’t care.
It doesn’t mean I’m lowering my standards.
It means I’m done making things more complicated than they need to be.
It means I’m leaning into the truth that good enough isn’t just good enough… it’s often the best path forward.
Over the years, my words have been like breadcrumbs—little signposts leading me out of old patterns.
I’ve had words for the hard years, when I was trying to stay steady and hopeful.
And I think of that gingerbread house metaphor I wrote about several years ago—the way we keep piling on frosting and decorations to make something crumbling look “fine.” That image was really about the same lesson: authenticity is better than perfection.
There was the year I leaned into delight, because life needed to be more than checklists and production mode.
There was the year I chose consciously intentional, a phrase that helped me pause before I said yes—and ask whether I was choosing something out of joy… or out of obligation.
And there were the earlier words that held whole chapters of life: hope, opportunity, be, trust, adventure.
If you’re noticing a theme, you’re not alone. My words have been leading me—year by year—out of perfectionism and into something gentler and (ironically) far more effective.
Why “easy” now?
Because I’ve lived long enough to know this: life is precious, and the time we get is not unlimited.
And at this age—at this season of life—I’m not interested in spending my energy on things that exist only to impress someone, prove something, or meet an invisible standard I’ve made up in my head.
I want to be intentional about how I spend my hours.
“How can this be easy?” is my permission slip to stop making everything more complicated than it has to be—especially the things I care about.
Because here’s the tricky thing about perfectionism: it doesn’t always look like Martha Stewart or Miranda Priestly. Sometimes it shows up dressed as virtue:
- being “thorough”
- being “responsible”
- being “the one who always shows up”
- doing it “the right way”
But… at what cost?
When I ask, “How can this be easy?” what I’m really asking is:
- What is the simplest next step?
- What would “good enough” look like here?
- What am I doing out of habit—not purpose?
My hope for this year
I hope this phrase brings more joy and energy to the everyday—and less overthinking —into the mix about people, processes, and plans. (My 2025 phrase was Let Them, and wow… that one has helped on the people side.)
Delight taught me to ask, “How can this be fun?”
Intentionality taught me to pause before saying yes.
And this year, I’m leaning into easier.
So that’s my phrase: How can this be easy?
If you’re choosing a word or phrase for the year, tell me—what is it?
Originally posted on my Substack.
