This Year's Word with Courtney Symes

My word of the year for 2026 is Freedom.

Ironically, I selected this word at the end of last year, before I realised this Lunar Year was the Year of the Fire Horse. As we embark on this new Lunar Year, I though it was fitting that my next four episodes explore the theme of freedom.

Freedom in our personal lives. Freedom in our work. Freedom in our relationships. Freedom in our goals and dreams.

In this episode, we begin where all ...

Over the past few episodes, we’ve been exploring the word flow — not as something we chase or manufacture, but as something we learn to cooperate with.

We’ve talked about February as a return to the current. About consistency as relationship rather than discipline. About staying connected to our intentions without force or punishment.

Today, as we close this series, I want to bring all of those threads together.

Because there’s a p...

Over the last couple of episodes, we’ve been exploring the word flow — not as something we push ourselves into, but as something we learn to listen for and respond to.

We’ve talked about February as a return to the current. A re-entry into real life. A time when routines have resumed, energy has shifted, and the shine of January has softened.

Today, I want to explore a piece of this conversation that feels especially important righ...

Over the last episode, we began exploring the idea of flow — not as something we chase or manufacture, but as something we learn to listen to and cooperate with.

We spoke about February as a return to the current. A settling back into real life. A season where the excitement of new beginnings softens, and we’re invited to meet ourselves where we actually are.

Today, I want to take that conversation a little deeper.

Because there’s ...

Although I’ve been back at work for a few weeks, this week my kiddos have gone back to school and resumed their extracurricular activities. It feels like we have resumed our regular routine, which for me, brings mixed emotions. The bliss of slower mornings not rushing to get out of the house and scrambling to make school lunches has melted away. Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations feel like a distant memory.

As we step int...

Over the last few episodes, we’ve been exploring the theme of vision — not as something rigid or prescriptive, but as something alive.

A way of seeing clearly. A quiet orientation toward what matters most.

We’ve spoken about defining vision from truth rather than pressure. About holding vision lightly, without force or attachment. About becoming the person who can carry the vision with steadiness and care.

And today, I’d like to br...

Over the past few episodes, we’ve been exploring the theme of vision — not as something rigid or prescriptive, but as something alive. A way of seeing clearly. A gentle orientation toward what matters most.

We’ve talked about defining vision from truth rather than pressure. We’ve explored holding vision lightly — without attachment or force.

And today, I’d like to take us into the next layer of this conversation.

Because once you h...

Over the last episode, we explored the idea of vision — not as something rigid or prescriptive, but as a way of seeing clearly. A gentle orientation toward what matters, rather than a fixed destination we must reach.

Today, I’d like to take that idea one step further.

Because once we begin to clarify our vision, another question naturally arises — how do we hold it?

Do we grip tightly, determined to make it happen exactly as imagin...

When you hear the word vision, what comes to mind?

For some of us, it brings up images of big goals, five-year plans, vision boards filled with perfectly curated dreams. For others, it can feel overwhelming — like pressure to have everything figured out, to know exactly where you’re headed and how you’ll get there.

But as we step into this series on the theme of “vision” together, I want to offer a softer, more spacious way of thin...

As we come to the final weeks of the year, there’s a particular kind of quiet that settles in.

It’s not just the slowing of the calendar or the closing of long-held commitments. It’s something deeper — a kind of inward turning. A natural pause. A gentle, almost instinctive moment of reflection where we look back at the year that has been and consider everything that has shifted, stretched, challenged, unsettled, strengthened, or so...

When you think about the happiest moments of your life, how many of them were spent alone?

Chances are, the memories that stand out most — a birthday, a new job, a milestone, a beautiful day in the sunshine — were shared with someone else. Maybe it was family gathered around a table, a group of friends cheering you on, or even a stranger who smiled and joined in your excitement.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring what it...

This month, we’re exploring the theme of Celebrate — not just in the big, sparkly moments that naturally call for balloons and confetti, but in the quieter, more personal ways that remind us of our own growth, courage, and evolution.

In the last episode, I talked about celebrating the small things — those simple, everyday joys that make life rich and meaningful: the first coffee of the morning, a deep conversation, the satisfaction...

As we reach the final weeks of the year, many of us find ourselves reflecting — thinking about what went well, what changed, and perhaps what still feels unfinished.

It’s so easy, in these moments, to look back through the lens of achievement — to measure our worth by the goals we ticked off, the projects we completed, or the milestones we reached.

But what if we shifted that lens, just a little?

What if, instead of asking, “What d...

If you’ve ever had one of those moments where life didn’t go according to plan — where everything you’d so carefully arranged suddenly shifted — you’ll know the mix of emotions that can follow.

There’s that initial shock, maybe even frustration, as you think, “This isn’t what I pictured.”

But sometimes, once the dust settles, there’s something else waiting there too — a quiet sense of curiosity, or even wonder, about what might com...

If you’ve ever had a conversation with someone whose worldview completely challenged your own — maybe a friend, a family member, or even a stranger — you’ll know that it can feel both uncomfortable and enlightening.

It’s that moment when you realise: there are so many different ways to see the world.

This episode is all about that realisation — about embracing variety in people and perspectives, and how connecting with diverse mind...

If you’ve ever felt torn between wanting everything to stay the same and craving something new, you’re not alone. We all live somewhere along that spectrum, constantly shifting between comfort and curiosity, between the familiar and the unknown.

This month, we’re contemplating the theme of Variety, and in this episode, I explore something that touches all of us — the dance between routine and variety. How do we find harmony between...

This meditation is about flourishing - as an individual and in your connection with others. 

If the content of today’s episode has piqued your interest, I have something very special for you. I have created 30 Journal Prompts, similar to the ones mentioned throughout this episode on flourishing – that’s one life-changing prompt for you to work on every day over the next month! Just imagine how much growth you can unlock over the ne...

When was the last time you did something different?

It could be trying a new food, taking a different route on a walk or run, listening to a new podcast, or something more extreme like moving house or taking an extended trip to somewhere you’ve never been before.

How did this change make you feel? Exhilarated? Or down-right terrified?

As they say, “variety is the spice of life”, so over the next few episodes, I’m going to explore t...

Over the last few episodes, we’ve been exploring what it means to build confidence — that deep, quiet belief in yourself that doesn’t waver when life gets hard.

We’ve talked about body language — how the way we carry ourselves shapes the way we feel — and we’ve explored self-talk, those inner words that can either lift us up or quietly hold us back.

Today, we’re exploring another piece of the confidence puzzle — one that is often o...