First things first. We wish you a very happy – and healthy (!) – New Year, may 2026 be a great year for you!!! 

 

So, another shiny New Year beckons. The million dollar question is what are you going to do with it? What plans do you have? Big and, just as important, small. And, if you’re wondering why small is just as important, there’s a very simple answer. Not only are small things less scary and so easier to do – as well as fitting more easily into your day – but quickly build up into a much bigger result. If you need a quick reminder why starting small AND starting now wins the day (!), click here for our first post of 2025. 

 

Which brings us on to the dreaded New Year’s resolutions. As Clients and regular readers of this blog will know by now, we’re not great fans of the usual approach to New Year’s resolutions. It’s the reason we refer to them as the dreaded New Year’s resolutions (!). 

Well, it’s almost THAT day of the year again. One guaranteed to send stress levels rocketing through the roof. And, with many people having already donned their metaphorical tin hat in anticipation (!), it’s not surprising that one – less that positive (!) – little mantra is so popular at this time of year. Although, to be fair, it’s a perennial favourite all year round. 

 

Often known as “Sod’s Law” – or “Murphy’s Law” – it says quite simply, “If something can go wrong, it will.” While we haven’t been able to find out exactly who Sod was (!), apparently, Murphy’s Law came from a Captain Murphy. He was involved in the testing of high speed jets and said, of one of the technicians working on the project, that “If there is any way to do it wrong, he’ll find it.” It quickly became known as “Murphy’s Law” and another mantra – or motto – was born. 

 

So, are we suggesting that you should fall back on this all too common “glass half empty” approach to the festive season? 

 

Well, no. 

 

Instead, we’re going to suggest two alternative little mantras to help smooth your path and get things moving in a much more positive direction. 

 

Ready? Then here we go… 

Last week we kicked off our annual dose of festive season common sense with a reminder that perfection never wins. Good enough is always good enough. Yes, really! If you missed it or need a quick reminder (!) click here. 

 

Having seen off that particular monster for the time being – ever the optimist (!) – this week we’re going to shine a light on one of its close relatives. One we allow to run rampant far too often. Or, let someone else send in our direction… Guilt. 

Goodness, it’s the second week in December already – deep calming breaths all round – and the madness of the festive season is upon us. Having seen some rather frazzled Clients in the last few days, we thought it was time for a dose of common sense. That’s if we dare use those two words in the same breath, Christmas and common sense (!). 

 

Moving swiftly on, we’re going to use the posts running up to the big day to try and inject a little sanity into proceedings. And, in the process, help reduce the collective blood pressure and less than reasonable expectations about the season… 

 

Ready? 

 

Then here we go. 

If you’re a car driver, you’ll be used to the myriad of hazard and warning lights on your dashboard. Whether you know exactly what they’re for – or not – is another matter (!). Some orange, some red. Some blinking, often rather aggressively. Others coming with a warning shriek or, as an elderly relative used to call them, “whingers.” With there being so many different ones these days, it can be hard to know which ones to pay attention to – NOW!!! – and which can be safely ignored, for a while at least… 

 

And it’s exactly the same with us, albeit less high tech. We all have our own unique warning signs and symptoms that something may be amiss. Whether a little or a lot. We just have to notice them.