Manifesting Your Best Year: The Art of Setting Soulful Intentions

Happy almost-New Year, friends! 🎉 I hope this finds you in the midst of a soul-aligned holiday season, savoring the magic of these moments.

You know how the Universe loves to serve us up what we need rather than what we want? Well, that’s been my theme since my sudden (and let’s be honest, strange) break-up two months ago. While it wasn’t the plot twist I had in mind, it handed me an unexpected gift: the space to focus on my work (hello, Cravings Cure Challenge on January 13!), dive deeper into self-care (thanks to insights from my Ayurvedic consultations with Eran), and cherish extra snuggles and playtime with my fur baby, Fiona. 🐾💕

Of course, life isn’t all green smoothies and wagging tails. In all honesty, I’m still working through some lingering anger toward my ex.

But here’s the thing: I’m putting into practice all the mental and emotional tools I coach my clients on—and you know what? They work. Grace has been my guide, even as I navigate the messy middle of grief and growth.

Just last Sunday, I spent time with someone I’ve known in passing, someone I deeply respect. And wouldn’t you know it? In one afternoon, a conversation revealed blind spots from my past relationship that I hadn’t yet uncovered. These realizations helped me let go of a big chunk of that lingering anger. It’s funny how the Universe sends people into your life at exactly the right moment, isn’t it?

And no, I’m not about to start a blog series called Sexy Fit Vegan Dating Diaries. (Though if I weren’t such an introvert who prefers animals to humans, maybe I’d consider it. 😜) Instead, I’m channeling my energy into aligning my inner world with my outer world. Because, friends, the Law of Attraction? It’s a scientific certainty, not some woo-woo fluff.

A Single Word to Set the Tone for 2025

As we roll into a new year, I have no expectations, no rigid resolutions. Instead, I’m stepping into 2025 with one simple, soul-aligned intention:

To BE more in balance.

For me, this means balancing the yin and yang, the masculine and feminine, the doing and being.

And since I am prone to over-doing (over-working and over-training specifically), and am most comfortable with yang/masculine energy, the single word for the year that I will use to remind me of my intention is “SOFTEN.”

Here’s how I plan to embody this intention:

• Meditating at least five days a week. 🧘‍♀️
• Releasing tension stored in my body through energy-moving practices like Tai Chi (which I started a few weeks ago!).
• Laughing more—because joy is medicine.

An Invitation for You

What about you? What’s your vision for the year ahead? Instead of the same old resolutions (we know how those play out), I invite you to try something different:

1. Choose one word or phrase that captures the essence of who you want to be this year.
2. Create a few actionable commitments to bring that intention to life.
3. Focus on being rather than doing—set an intention that reflects your inner transformation, not just external outcomes. (Hint: “Lose 10 pounds” is out; “Cultivate strength” is in.)

Need some inspiration? Here’s a quote I adore:

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” – Andrew Carnegie

What’s your word for the year? I’d love to hear it—drop it in the comments!

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Ella Magers, MSW

Founder & CEO at Sexy Fit Vegan®

A passionate vegan for the last 28 years, Ella Magers, MSW is a leading voice for revolutionary transformation in the fitness industry. Ella connects people with the information, tools, support, and guidance they need to develop holistically healthy habits, claim mental and emotional well-being, and live more fulfilling and fiercely compassionate lives. Ella is a professional speaker, published author, and coach. She is the spirited host of the inspiring Rise & Thrive Podcast and the Vegan Life Coach Podcast, founder of Sexy Fit Vegan®, and creator of the 22Reboot total transformation system. As a plant-based athlete and former bodybuilding champion, Ella was recognized as one of the world's top personal trainers by bodybuilding.com and Shape Magazine. Having healed from her own struggles with disordered eating, Ella Magers shows people that there are alternatives to crash diets and excessive workout regimens, and how to align their lifestyle with true health by using compassion as their compass. Ella is on the founding board of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with the mission of creating the best possible life for farm animals while inspiring compassion for all living beings.

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