🎊 The 7 Powerful Values I’m Building My Year Around
What if you didn't need a new you this year?
Hello, fabulous!
Let’s skip the part where I pretend I’m making resolutions this year.
Because we all know what happens. You wake up on January 1st full of kale-fueled ambition, write out 37 bullet points about how you’re going to overhaul your life, and by the third week of the month you’re spiraling because you didn’t drink 64 ounces of water, meditate, or wake up before the sun. Again.
Listen, if resolutions actually worked, we’d all be glowing, emotionally balanced billionaires by now. But they don’t. They usually leave us feeling like we failed at something no one asked us to do in the first place.
So this year, I’m doing it differently.
No more trying to become some mythical version of myself who lives off green smoothies and gets high off the smell of gym rubber. I’m done “fixing.” I’m starting to align.
And the secret to alignment?
Values.
Not as sexy-sounding as “2026 Yearly Goals” I know. But values are what actually carry you forward when motivation dies (which, by the way, it always does). They’re your personal GPS—pointing you back to yourself when you drift.
So in place of resolutions, I sat myself down with a good cup of coffee, zero judgment, and a very honest conversation. What do I want more of? What do I want less of? Who am I right now—not in theory, not in fantasy, but for real? What feels aligned with her?
Here’s what I landed on: a list of values that will guide me through 2026 like a beautifully annotated roadmap—equal parts clarity, sass, and “don’t you dare settle.”
This isn’t about being a brand-new person. It’s about being more me—on purpose.
If that sounds like something you need too, pull up a chair. Let’s talk.
1. Integrity to Self
I’m a military girl, so my integrity meter got calibrated early. The Air Force taught me that integrity isn’t a vibe - it’s a practice: control your impulses, tell the truth, own your choices, and do what’s right…especially when nobody’s watching and you could absolutely get away with it.
Also? There’s something wildly underrated about being honest with yourself. Like, brutally honest. I’m talking, “No, Sandra, you don’t actually enjoy that, you just think you’re supposed to.”
For me, integrity to self means stopping the performative nonsense. It’s saying, “Actually, I don’t want to go to that event,” or “I’m not the kind of person who thrives on chaos and last-minute stress—I just got used to it.”
Integrity isn’t fixed. It evolves as you evolve. But you have to be paying attention. You can’t live aligned with who you are if you never take the time to meet who you are now.
2026 intention: I tell the truth, even when it ruins the vibe.
2. Excellence
I believe in excellence. I also believe in naps. And if we’re being honest, sometimes a nap is the most excellent thing you can do.
Because excellence isn’t “do more.” It’s “do what matters… better.” And sometimes the most high-performance move is closing your eyes for 22 minutes like a paid athlete and waking up with your personality restored.
In all seriousness, the phrase “Excellence in all we do” was also tattooed on my brain courtesy of the Air Force, and it doesn’t mean perfection or being the best. It means giving a damn.
Excellence, to me, is three things:
not doing things halfway unless I’m choosing “good enough” on purpose (not out of laziness or autopilot),
bringing heart and presence to what I’m doing instead of resentment, and
knowing when to walk away because I’m not giving my best to obligations I didn’t choose, guilt projects, draining relationships, or “should” goals that were never mine.
This year, I’m aiming for excellence in the things that matter and when I say yes, I want that yes to mean something. If it doesn’t light me up, teach me something, bring joy, or move me toward something better—I’m not giving it my full shine.
2026 intention: If it’s not worthy of my brilliance, it’s not worthy of my burnout.
3. Self-Love
I’ll say it louder for the people in the back: YOU. ARE. WORTH. IT.
Self-love isn’t just bubble baths and face masks (though I fully support the entire spa-industrial complex). It’s not “treating yourself” because you’ve been “good”. You’re not a puppy, though they are super cute.
A lot of us have been living like love is something you earn. Like you get to be kind to yourself only after you’ve been productive enough, thin enough, organized enough, unbothered enough… perfect enough. Hard no. I’m done tying my worth to performance, productivity, or proximity to someone else’s standards. I’m just not doing that. Not in 2026. Not EVERRRRRRR!
Look, I practice what I preach. My friends all know this about me: I’m the woman who will order the oysters with caviar just because it looks like joy on a plate. I’ll splurge on the fancy coffee table book because it makes my space feel alive. I’ll spend the day in a fluffy onesie because it’s warm and cuddly and I detest living like pleasure needs to be justified.
And if you’ve read my money rules, you know this isn’t random—I choose VIP on purpose because my nervous system loves legroom and my life loves memories. I try to pay attention to what makes me feel regulated, alive, and like myself again—and I do THAT. And so should you.
2026 intention: I don’t earn my worth—I walk in it.
4. Value
Here’s the deal: value is very personal and yet totally NOT about the price tag. It’s about the return and what something brings into your life.
Some things cost money and give you peace, joy, ease, or time back. That’s value. My $7 Peppermint Mocha Frappuccinos might seem outrageous to some, but they’re basically a limited-edition cup of December joy. I drink one as often as possible during the season because this sugary delicious concoction brings me pure, unadulterated joy and makes me feel like I’m living my best life. Worth every penny.
On the flip side, you could spend a fortune on something that does nothing for you, so why bother? For me, cars are a perfect example. I refuse to spend more than $35,000 or $600/mth on a carbecause there are plenty of options at that price point that still feel luxe, have the tech I want, and don’t send my insurance into the stratosphere.
My husband? Completely different. He’d happily spend $100k+ on a car because it gives him that quiet-luxury rush…the soft leather, the confident purr of the engine, the smooth glide, and the instant main-character feeling every time he gets behind the wheel. Thankfully, he’s currently scratching that itch with a used Audi at a MUCH lower price point, but you can see what I mean: same category, totally different value.
2026 intention: If it doesn’t feel rich on the inside, it’s not worth a dime on the outside.
5. Self-Consideration
If I could tattoo anything across the collective heart of every woman (and man) I love, it would be this:
Do NOT self-eliminate.
I’ve watched too many brilliant, qualified, wildly capable people quietly talk themselves out of their next chapter. “I’m not ready.” “They won’t pick me.” “I’m probably not what they want.” Says who? Because most of the time, no one else did. You did.
More people remove themselves from the running than are ever actually told no, and I’ve been guilty of it too, mentally backing out of something amazing before I even stepped in, waiting to hit some imaginary benchmark first. Not anymore. Not in 2026.
So here’s my rule: Apply anyway. Try anyway. Pitch it anyway. Send the message. Ask for the meeting. Show up. If it’s a no, let it come from them, NOT from you.
2026 intention: I will stop ghosting opportunities before they ghost me.
6. Higher Power
Alright, let’s talk about the universe, that cosmic co-conspirator who sometimes delivers your dream on a silver platter and other times drops a reality check in your lap like an unexpected parking ticket.
I believe in asking boldly, dreaming specifically, and then trusting that the universe is either delivering what I want or preparing me for something even better. I’m famously known for saying, “The universe bends to my will.” And because I believe it, it usually does.
Of course, sometimes you pray for a breakthrough and get a detour. Sometimes you ask for alignment and get silence. Sometimes you say, “I want more,” and the universe gently nudges you to let go of what no longer fits.
It’s not always linear, it’s rarely convenient, but it’s always unfolding.
So here’s how I’m moving through 2026:
I’m asking clearly, showing gratitude before the answer shows up, and staying open, even when the universe has jokes.
If the door closes, I trust there’s a window. If the path shifts, I trust it’s still leading somewhere good. I’m not micromanaging divine timing. I’m just showing up with faith, flexibility, and the occasional side-eye when things get weird.
2026 intention: I’m trusting the vibes and minding my business.
7. Curiosity and Learning
I live and die by my curiosity. I jokingly call myself a curious chameleon because I want to know everything and try everything. Well, everything that doesn’t make me feel like I’m about to die, obviously. So no, you will not catch me skydiving. But if it’s interesting, creative, weird, or beautiful? Oh yes, please, I want in.
My brain is constantly nudging me like, “Ooooh, what’s that?!” and I’ve learned that I feel the most alive when I actually let myself follow those sparks. Whether it’s signing up for a random class, reading about some niche topic I don’t need to know, or diving into a tutorial I’ll absolutely mess up the first time, I love learning just for the fun of it. It wakes me up and reminds me that I’m still growing. But also…I hate saying no to myself.
Unfortunately, when I’m in a funk, curiosity is the first thing to go. That’s always my sign. The days start to blur, I go on autopilot, and suddenly I’m living in a loop. Everything feels… fine. And “fine” is such a red flag for me. “Fine” means I’m shrinking and I haven’t fed my brain or my soul in a while. That’s when I start to feel like a slobby little blob version of myself. Ewww, right?! I do not accept that energy in 2026.
That’s why curiosity is one of my core values. I love learning cool stuff and staying awake in my own life. It’s how I evolve, reconnect with wonder, and remember that I’m still becoming. That I’m allowed to be new at things. That growth doesn’t have to be strategic or monetized or perfect.
Sometimes, growth just looks like saying yes to the thing that makes your brain go, “Ooooh yes, please.”
2026 intention: I’m saying yes to the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly unnecessary.
Happy New Year
So there you have it—my 2026 values, in all their soul-aligned glory. 💫
If you’ve made it to the end of this very extra list (bless you), I hope you’re walking away with one very important truth:
You don’t need to fix yourself to begin again. You just need to know yourself. And that’s a journey worth taking in cozy socks, with good coffee, surrounded by people who see your magic—even when you forget.
Whether your list looks like mine or wildly different, write it anyway. Scribble it in your journal, jot it on a napkin, drop it in the Notes app while waiting for your Starbucks order—just get it out of your head and into the world. You might be surprised how powerful it feels to name what matters.
You don’t need permission. You just need a starting point. This could be yours.
Thank you for being here, for reading, for reflecting, for cheering me on through every season this year. I’m so grateful for your presence, your comments, your curiosity—and I can’t wait to keep growing Sandrapop alongside you.
See you in the new year, my fabulous friend. 2026 is already lucky to have you. ✨🥂✨
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💬 LET’S DISCUSS: What would be on your list of core values for 2026?