Our 2026 Mantra
- Michelle Rae Sobi
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
An Invitation to Authentic Connection
Each year brings us a quiet prompt. Not a resolution. Not a demand for perfection. Just a gentle question we get to live into.
For 2026, my mantra is simple, but powerful:
“All good — just processing.”
“Still here — just tracking.”
“Let me meditate on that.”
These three phrases are my invitation into authentic connection—starting with myself, and extending into my relationships, my work, and my community.
Why This Matters
So much miscommunication doesn’t come from disagreement—it comes from misinterpretation of silence. A pause gets mistaken for distance. Brevity gets mistaken for anger. Thoughtfulness gets mistaken for withdrawal.
But what if we normalized processing?
What if we made space for the truth that sometimes we’re not pulling away—we’re simply going inward to listen more clearly?
“All Good — Just Processing.”
This phrase is a reminder that not every pause is a problem. Sometimes it’s simply discernment in motion. It lets others know that nothing is wrong—we’re just allowing the moment to land before we speak.
“Still Here — Just Tracking.”
This one holds presence and space at the same time. It says: I’m connected. I’m just paying attention internally right now.In a world that rushes responses, this honors awareness.
“Let Me Meditate on That.”
In yoga culture, this is sacred language. It protects the pause. It reframes time not as avoidance, but as reverence. It tells the truth: I care enough about this to respond consciously.
Authentic Connection Isn’t Constant Availability
Real connection doesn’t require immediate answers. It requires:
Emotional honesty
Internal awareness
Nervous-system safety
And mutual respect for pace
These three phrases help build relationships where clarity replaces guessing, and presence replaces pressure.
Your Invitation
This year, I invite you to practice these phrases—not just as words, but as lived boundaries of care. Whether with a student, a partner, a colleague, or yourself, let them become gentle bridges between thought and communication.
You don’t need to explain your whole inner world.You just need language that makes space for it.
With clarity and warmth,
Michelle