Out With the Old, In With the New: Determining Goals for 2026 as Women Who Lead

There is something sacred about the turn of a year. It is not just a calendar change. It is a pause. A breath. A chance to reflect before stepping forward again.

For women in leadership, goal-setting is rarely simple. We carry responsibility in visible places and invisible ones. We lead teams, households, ministries, classrooms, businesses, friendships, and futures. Often all at once.

As 2026 approaches, the question is not just what do I want to achieve, but who am I becoming as I lead.

Taking Inventory Before Taking Action

Before setting new goals, wisdom invites us to look honestly at what we are bringing with us.

What worked in the last season?

What stretched us in healthy ways?

What quietly drained us?

What we tolerated that we should not have?

Leadership growth requires discernment. Not everything that once served you still belongs in the next chapter.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”Psalm 90:12

What “number our days” really means:

• Acknowledging limits

• Valuing obedience over urgency

• Choosing faithfulness over accumulation

• Living with accountability before God

  
  

The “heart of wisdom” mentioned is not intellectual knowledge. It is moral and spiritual discernment, the ability to live well, not just long.Taking inventory is not about self-criticism. It is about clarity. And clarity is a gift.

Leadership Looks Different for Every Woman

Leadership is not a title. It is influence. Whether you lead at home as a matriarch, guide others in a committee or organization, or are still becoming who God is shaping you to be in the spaces in between, your leadership counts.

The mistake many women make is measuring their goals against someone else’s calling. Comparison creates pressure. Calling creates purpose. Your goals for 2026 should reflect your responsibilities, your season, and your capacity, not someone else’s highlight reel.

Letting Go Is Part of Moving Forward

“Out with the old” is not about erasing the past. It is about releasing what no longer aligns.

This may mean letting go of people-pleasing.Letting go of goals that were rooted in approval. Letting go of overextension disguised as faithfulness. God is not honored by burnout. He is honored by obedience.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28

Sometimes the most faithful goal you can set is rest. Or boundaries. Or saying no without guilt.

Setting Goals That Are Rooted, Not Rushed

As you determine goals for 2026, ask deeper questions.

What kind of leader do I want to be, not just what do I want to produceWhere do I need to grow in courage, not just competenceWhat would it look like to lead from peace instead of pressure

Healthy goals are not just measurable. They are sustainable. They leave room for grace, growth, and humanity.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”Proverbs 16:3

When goals are committed to God, they stop being a burden and start becoming a partnership.

The Power of Shared Vision and Community

Leadership can be isolating if carried alone. God designed growth to happen in community.

Wise counsel sharpens perspective. Encouragement restores strength. Shared prayer brings clarity.

As you step into 2026, consider who is walking with you. Who challenges you with love. Who speaks truth without competition. Who reminds you of your calling when doubt creeps in.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.”Ecclesiastes 4:9

Leadership flourishes where connection is intentional.

Choosing the New With Intention

Out with the old means honoring what was and releasing it.In with the new means stepping forward with purpose. May 2026 be a year where women lead with clarity instead of chaos. With conviction instead of comparison. With faith instead of fear.

Not because the world demands more from us, but because God is faithful to guide every step forward.