EXPANDED Podcast by To Be Magnetic™

Episode 389: Purpose Over Perfection – How to Have Your Most Aligned Year in 2026
Host: Jessica Gill
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This special New Year’s episode is a guide for setting intentions and manifesting in 2026 from a place of alignment, self-trust, and “purpose over perfection.” Host Jessica Gill draws on both TBM’s Neural Manifestation™ process and her own personal reflections to steer listeners away from perfectionism and toward embodied, empowered choices—especially the power of an authentic “no.” The episode dives into how subtle, consistent shifts—not grand gestures—are the key to becoming more magnetic, and how the coming year is an opportunity to integrate boundaries, heal patterns, and find your unique path through inner and outer challenges.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Riding the New Year’s Energy Mindfully

• [02:10] Jessica sets the tone for the year, cautioning against using January momentum “against yourself.” Instead, she recommends focusing on “tiny little moments” of expanded awareness and gentle self-relation, regardless of whether the year starts off smooth or with challenges.

  “The real wins are in the tiny little moments that we decide to relate to the ebbs and flows of life differently.” — Jessica (02:32)

• [04:45] Acknowledges that setbacks or resistance (like getting sick the first week) are often the “perfect thing to shift our reality.”

  “Can we roll with the punches with a little bit more ease this year than last year?” — Jessica (05:17)

2. Embracing the “Both/And” of Life

• [08:12] Uses a symbolic story about a mug (“Everything is always working out for me”) to frame the importance of balancing optimism and realism.

  “If we stick too much to the ‘ugh, screw everything…’ it’s so hard. We’re never going to see the magic. And simultaneously, if we’re always just looking for the magic and we’re pressing down the hard stuff, we’re not going to be able to metabolize the goodness.” — Jessica (09:10)

• [09:55] Challenges the pressure for 2026 to be the ‘best year yet’; instead, she offers a more nuanced and sustainable vision:

  “2026 won’t be the best year of your life. It won’t change everything, but it can get really, really good, really big, and really aligned... but it’s not because everything is suddenly perfect. It’s because you stopped waiting for it to be, to finally make your move.” — Jessica (10:22)

3. The Magic of Saying “No” and Energetic Alignment

• [17:32] Encourages an empowered “no” as the “most magnetic word.” Practical examples include auditing your work or social life to identify and gently release what no longer serves.

  “Why am I holding onto this task?... There was no drama about it. It was just like a very practical decision—just naturally came to its close.” — Jessica [About delegating email tasks] (19:45)

• [22:00] Urges listeners to notice “where that no needs to be a little bit stronger, where that boundary needs to be a little bit firmer.”

  “So much of your magnetism, so much of your manifestation, so many things can open up on the other side of that embodied no.” — Jessica (22:59)

• [24:30] Insight on discernment: “If your pattern is you settle or hold onto things too long, your ‘no’ this year is your mega superpower. If you cut people off quickly already, it might be the opposite.”

4. Reconnecting with Intuition & Self-Trust

• [31:00] Points out the confusion that arises when intuition is disconnected: “If we don't have a clear connection to that, ‘no’ is very confusing because we don't know if we're saying ‘no’ out of fear, or ‘no’ out of instinct.”

• [33:50] Example on following true excitement versus over-strategizing—especially relevant to creators and entrepreneurs debating what platform or project to invest in.

  “What does your body want to do?... Why not just start creating more in the categories you're really excited to create in and let any other ego pulls drop off.” — Jessica (35:10)

• [37:05] “We are basing our strategic logic on the world that we have seen before. The new paradigm is stepping into a world that we haven't quite seen yet... So instead of using our strategic mind to make choices that our soul and our heart has already made, let's just follow the soul and the heart now.”

5. Shifting Manifestation Goals – Inner States over External Metrics

• [39:22] Observes how community goals are shifting from material-focused to internal experiential states (peace, presence, rest, etc.).

  “Let those non-material things be your North Star… Because you're actually getting to the root of what your soul is searching for.” — Jessica (41:32)

• [42:00] Encourages listeners to get clear on their “why” for any goal—material or otherwise—and to release the old paradigm of endless upward growth for its own sake.

6. Audience Q&A – Practical Application of Concepts

(Timestamps refer to respondent’s answers, not question reading)

A. Purpose/Energy vs. Authentic Code – [47:50]

• Authentic code: foundational structures and themes (e.g., “creative vision, innovation, home and beauty, magic”).
• Purpose: energy expressing through those codes at this season of life.

  “Your energy of what lights you up and how your energy wants to be used is more your purpose and soul's essence, especially for this season.” — Jessica (48:19)

B. Settling vs. Staying Committed (in love/career/etc.) – [51:40]

• “Settling is continuing on a toxic pattern or cycle… staying committed means both parties are actively aiming for growth and healing.”
• Advice: Examine your previous patterns—if you always quit, try staying; if you always stay too long, try moving on.

C. TBM Resources for Decision-Making – [56:12]

• Recommendations: Answers & Clarity Deep Imagining; Monthly Check-in Workshop; Authenticity Challenge (Week 5, Test Protocol).

D. Processing Grief & Resentment – [59:00]

• Don't repress ‘negative’ feelings; use tools like Resentment DI, Conflict DI, journaling (especially unfiltered writing), and self-validation.

  “Until you let that part of you… fully express and feel safe to fully express—even if you're like, I don't agree with half the things this part is saying—let it rip.” — Jessica (1:00:17)

E. Experience with Return to Magic Challenge – [1:03:00]

• Big theme: Releasing control, learning to source safety internally instead of externally (e.g., clean house as a stand-in for ‘feeling in control’).

  “Instead of my automatic response… Can I sit with that discomfort for a minute and source that safety, source that feeling of autonomy and control within?” — Jessica (1:05:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just want to give you guys permission to step into the driver’s seat this year a little bit more... So much of your magnetism can open up on the other side of that embodied ‘no.’” — Jessica (00:01)
• “2026 won’t be the best year of your life. It won’t change everything, but it can get really, really good, really big, and really aligned… but it’s not because everything is suddenly perfect. It’s because you stopped waiting for it to be.” — Jessica (10:22)
• “Why am I holding onto this task?... There was no drama about it. It was just like a very practical decision—just naturally came to its close.” — Jessica (19:45)
• “Let those non-material things be your North Star… because you’re actually getting to the root of what your soul is searching for.” — Jessica (41:32)
• “Holding both grace for yourself and the push for growth at the same time—almost like a tug of war—is the remedy and support system for us as we navigate major things this year.” — Jessica (1:08:10)

Timestamps: Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------| | 00:00 | Opening Intentions: “Embodied No” and New Year permission | | 08:12 | Story of the Mug & “Both/And” mindset | | 17:32 | The Power of No in Work and Life | | 22:00 | Boundaries, Deciding What to Drop | | 31:00 | Intuition, Self-Trust, and Deciding for Yourself | | 39:22 | Internal States as Manifestation Goals | | 47:50 | Q&A: Soul’s Purpose vs. Authentic Code | | 51:40 | Q&A: Settling vs. Staying Committed (Patterns) | | 56:12 | Q&A: Decision-Making Resources | | 59:00 | Q&A: Processing Resentment and Grief | | 1:03:00 | Q&A: Jessica’s Return to Magic Challenge learnings | | 1:08:10 | Closing reflections: Holding both grace and growth |

Final Takeaways

• Perfection is no longer the goal; purpose & present, aligned choices are.
• Your “empowered no” is the secret to magnetism and authentic manifestation in 2026.
• Let internal states (peace, presence, ease) guide your manifestation list as much as external goals.
• Understanding your personal patterns is key—respond with the opposite of your default autopilot.
• Consistent micro-shifts, daily discernment, and listening to your body and intuition will have a greater impact than big, dramatic actions.

Wishing all listeners a compassionate, empowering, and truly magical 2026!

Listener Invite:
If you want to deepen this work with TBM, check out the new “Return to Magic” challenge as part of the Pathway Membership. Sale info and links available in show notes.