What if you didn’t end the year with a big goal — but with clarity?

In this quiet bonus episode closing out Season 5 of Medium Lady Talks, Erin shares a personal year-in-review reflection inspired by Laura Tremaine’s 10 Questions for the End of the Year. Rather than offering resolutions or strategies, this episode explores what happens when we stop waiting for permission, external validation, or the “right time” to move forward.

Erin reflects on her word for 2026 and what it means to live from inner authority instead of urgency. She unpacks three gentle but powerful realizations from the past year: why rescuing isn’t leadership, why depth matters more than speed, and why self-trust can be more radical than having a plan.

This episode is for anyone ending the year without a bold intention — and feeling oddly okay about it.

If you’re craving permission to slow down, listen inward, and trust yourself before chasing the next strategy, this conversation is for you.

• What Erin chose as her word for 2026 — and what it actually means for her year ahead.

• The hidden cost of being the rescuer at work, in family life, and in relationships

• Choosing depth and rest without abandoning ambition

• Letting go of urgency, perfectionism, and incomplete projects without self-judgment

• Why self-trust can be more grounding than goal-setting

• A compassionate reframe for listeners who feel unsure about what’s next

“I realized I’ve been waiting for something that doesn’t exist — permission, legitimacy, or other people catching up.”

“Rescuing isn’t leadership. Rising up without abandoning myself is.”

“I didn’t end this year with a strategy. I ended it with self-trust — and that feels more radical.”

“You’re not behind. You might just be listening to yourself on a new level.”

• Burnt-out women and millennial mothers navigating ambition and rest

• Listeners who feel pressure to set goals but crave something quieter

• Anyone tired of hustle culture and performative self-improvement

• Leaders, caregivers, and creatives who are ready to stop waiting for permission

• Laura Tremaine’s 10 Questions for the End of the Year reflection practice

• The Summer of Real Rest theme and its lasting impact

• The idea of “negotiating the timeline, not the result”

If something resonated:

• Sit with a word that stood out to you

• Notice where you’re done rushing or rescuing

• Ask yourself where you might trust yourself a little sooner

There’s no homework here — just space.

Follow along on Instagram for more reflections, bookish content, and gentle encouragement: @medium.lady

If this episode spoke to you, screenshot it and share it — and tag Erin so you can continue the conversation.