This Year, Identify the Shift

As January draws to a close, many people feel the motivation of a fresh start begin to fade.

The excitement of new goals meets the resistance of old patterns.
We slip back into routines. Habits. Ways of thinking that feel familiar — even if they’re not effective.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned through decades of training leaders and martial artists alike, it’s this:

Real growth doesn’t come from setting new goals.
It comes from making new shifts.

And if you want your “fresh start” to be more than a temporary burst of energy, this is the question to ask:

What needs to shift in me… to meet the future I’m moving toward?

Let’s unpack that.

🎯 Shift vs. Repeat

Think of a rocket launch.

The engines fire. The energy is high. It breaks through the atmosphere.
But if there’s a misalignment — even by one degree — it ends up hundreds of miles off course.

That’s how it works with personal growth.

You can start the year with clarity and intention, but if you’re still carrying the same internal misalignments — the fear, the overcommitment, the procrastination — you’ll slowly veer off course.

Which brings us to this key truth:

You can’t create something new with the same mindset that created the old.

So what needs to shift?

🧭 Start Here: Three Areas to Explore

1. Beliefs
• What assumptions are you making about what’s possible?
• Are you still operating from scarcity, fear, or “not enough”?
• What would it look like to step into belief — in yourself, your purpose, your next chapter?
2. Behaviors
• What habits or patterns are no longer aligned with who you want to become?
• Are there small daily shifts that would create exponential results over time?
3. Boundaries
• Where are you leaking time, energy, or attention?
• What do you need to say no to — in order to say yes to what really matters?

⚡ Your Personal Shift Map

Try this short reflection exercise:

• What’s one area of your life or leadership that feels stuck or stagnant?
  Is it your business? Health? Relationships? Creativity?
• What’s the shift you feel called to make in that area?
  From confusion to clarity? From busy to balanced? From reactive to intentional?
• What’s one action you could take this week to embody that shift?

It doesn’t have to be dramatic.

A shift can begin with a single new habit, a courageous conversation, or a simple boundary you hold with love.

🥋 From the Mat to the Moment

In martial arts, we talk about “shifting stances” — a deliberate move that instantly changes your balance, power, and perspective.

The same applies in life.

When you identify and embody the internal shifts you need to make — everything else begins to realign.

This is the work of conscious leadership.
This is the power of fresh starts.

And this is your invitation.

Don’t just set new goals.

Set new standards.
Create new rhythms.
Live into new shifts.

Because transformation doesn’t start with the world changing.

It starts with you shifting — on purpose.

Chris Natzke
America's Breakthrough Sensei

PS: If you’re a man who’s ready to rise to your next level—or if you love a man who you know is capable of so much more—now is the time to take action. The Breaking Through Coaching Program is a 6-week journey designed to help purpose-driven men gain clarity, crush self-doubt, and create lasting transformation in their lives, work, and relationships.

Spots are limited, and I’d love to support you (or someone you care about) in creating a breakthrough that truly lasts.

👉 CLICK HERE  to book your free Discovery Call with me. Let’s see if this is your time to break through.