If you’ve been dragging some of last year around with you, or you’ve been feeling that strange mix of excitement and pressure that shows up every January, this episode is calling your name. Closing out the year, the POTC cohosts are bringing you a conversation about how creativity can be a lifeline, a mindset shift, and a really enjoyable way to start 2026 feeling more like yourself. Walking you through simple ways to reflect on the past year, we share some creative exercises that spark real insight and explore how tuning into your creative side can help you make meaning, connect with people, and better handle the tough stuff life throws at you. If you’re craving more joy, connection, or just a new angle on the year ahead, you’re bound to find something that resonates. So settle in, and join us in starting the year with intention, curiosity, and a little touch of creativity. Listen and Learn: Reflection Exercises, including: Finding Meaning: Reflecting on the past year, where were you last New Year’s, and what were your biggest highs and lows since then Meaningful Moments: Reflecting on two or three meaningful moments from the past year and vividly recalling the sights, sounds, and feelings of each experience Lessons, Wins and Moving Forward: Reflecting on your past year to uncover lessons from mistakes, celebrate achievements, and clarify what truly matters to you as you move into 2026 Vision for the Year Ahead: Reflecting on what you truly want, the areas you’ve neglected, and the values you want to prioritize in the year ahead How incorporating creative, life-affirming activities can boost your well-being and help you navigate life’s challenges Practical exercises and tips to spark more creativity in your life in the new year Resources: Access the New Year’s Reflection Questions from this episode (.pdf or editable MS Word versions available) Debbie’s Guided Journaling Substack with writing prompts and a 30-day journaling challenge Year Compass worksheets: https://yearcompass.com/ Word of the Year and Unravel Your Year worksheets by Susannah Conway: https://www.susannahconway.com/unravel Creative Mornings: https://creativemornings.com/ Jill | Betrayal Weekly: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jill-betrayal-weekly/id1615637724?i=1000726003078 If you have a story connected to trauma, crime, or someone who’s caused harm—and you feel ready to share it—Jill would love to hear from you. You can book a free 30-minute consult at: https://jillstoddard.com/contact-us About the POTC CoHosts: Debbie Sorensen , PhD, Co-host Debbie (she/her) is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Denver, Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard University. She is author of the book ACT for Burnout: Recharge, Reconnect, and Transform Burnout with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy , and co-author of ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy . She loves living in Colorado, her home state, with her husband, two daughters, and dog. When she’s not busy working or podcasting, she enjoys reading fiction, cooking, traveling, and getting outdoors in the beautiful Rocky Mountains! You can learn more about Debbie, read her blog, and find out about upcoming presentations and training events at her webpage, drdebbiesorensen.com . Jill Stoddard , PhD, Co-host Jill Stoddard is passionate about sharing science-backed ideas from psychology to help people thrive. She is a psychologist, writer, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, bariatric coach, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Dr. Stoddard is the founder and director of The Center for Stress and Anxiety Management , an outpatient practice specializing in evidence-based therapies for anxiety and related issues. She is the author of three books: The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ; Be Mighty: A Woman’s Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Mindfulness and Acceptance ; and Imposter No More: Overcome Self-doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career . Her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, Psychology Today, Scary Mommy, Thrive Global, The Good Men Project, and Mindful Return. She regularly appears on podcasts and as an expert source for various media outlets. She lives in Newburyport, MA with her husband, two kids, and disobedient French Bulldog. Michael Herold , Co-Host Michael (he/him) is a confidence trainer and social skills coach , based in Vienna, Austria. He’s helping his clients overcome their social anxiety through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and fun exposure exercises. (Though the jury is still out on whether they’re mostly fun for him). He is also a certified therapeutic game master, utilizing the Dungeons&Dragons tabletop r
