As a new year unfolds, I’m reminded that beginnings rarely arrive quietly. They ask questions. They stir memories. They invite us to choose—again—who we want to be and how we want to show up in this world.
In this month’s episode of my new podcast, we step into a powerful conversation about intention. Not just where we’re trying to go, but how we will travel the road ahead.
This is our invitation:
to pause…
to breathe…
to reset.
Goals Tell Us Where we want to go. Intentions Shape Who we are on our journey.
So many of us begin January armed with resolutions and goal lists—and goals absolutely matter. They give direction.
But intentions go deeper.
Intentions shape our spirit.
They guide us when plans shift.
They steady us when the waves rise higher than we expected.
In Treading the Waters of Life, I don’t only talk about destinations. I talk about the heart, the mindset of the soul, and the courage it takes to remain present in the journey.
🤍 Wisdom from David & Cheryl
I was honored to welcome two friends, David and Cheryl, whose lived experience brought so much richness to my most recent podcast conversation. Together we explored questions that matter more than any
What does success really mean?
I recently read a quote that said that success is not what we do, but what others experience because of what we do. That is all about impact!
Here are some of the nuggets of wisdom shared on the podcast:
Don’t try to do everything at once.
Focus on the legacy you want to leave.
Ask yourself: What do I want people to say when I retire—and when I’m no longer here?
Advocacy begins with advocating for yourself.
Challenges will either make you bitter or better—choose wisely.
David said something I can’t stop thinking about:
Asking for help is not weakness—it’s strength choosing to stay strong.
I love this, because it again reminds us that we all need each other. It reminds me of one of my favorite, and most quoted quotes:
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller
🌱 Authenticity, Hope & the Courage to Close Doors
Life will ask us to release things we once thought we needed. Some doors close without our permission; others require our bravery to close them ourselves.
We spoke honestly about the times in which doors are closed on us, but also when we need to close doors for our peace of mind. We talked about
holding onto possibility when hope feels like the only plan left and learning to enjoy the journey, not just endure it.
As we start this new year, I shared my guiding quote and word:
“The most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched, but are felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller
My word for the year is Hope—a quiet, resilient kind that keeps walking even when the path is unclear.
Since the recording of the podcast, while it was being readied, I spent a week in Honduras volunteering with an organization for people with disabilities. Believe me, I had to remind myself of my intentions-my quote and word!
Your Gentle Invitation
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You only need a willingness to live with intention—right where you are.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- how do I want to show up?
• What do I want to carry in my heart this year?
Write it down.
Name your intentions.
Let them guide your choices when the waters feel uncertain.
If you would like help shaping those intentions into meaningful goals and a strategy you can actually live, I invite you to download my book and workbook, Treading the Waters of Life—available at no cost on my website. Inside, I walk you through practical and heart-centered ways to set intentions, create goals, and take steps that honor who you truly are.
📘 Download here: http://www.TotalImpactPartners.com
And if you’re looking for more personal support, I would be honored to walk alongside you. I offer coaching services designed to help you move from stuck to steady, from overwhelmed to intentional, from hopeless to hopeful.
👉 Contact me through the website for more information.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
If this message speaks to you, I hope you will listen to the podcast and share it with someone who might need a little hope today.
🎙 Listen here:
Until next time,
keep treading the waters
with courage,
with intention,
and with hope. 🌊✨
— Sylvia
Total Impact Partners 
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