The Gentle Human GPS: resetting our mindset with Self-Compassion

'Recalculating' when we hit bumps in the road

How have you been navigating 2026 so far? Has it been a smooth ride or one full of unexpected bumps and turns?

This week as I continue settling into my new apartment, I’ve been thinking of it like a journey. “Are we there yet?” I want to ask, imagining arriving at a static destination of comfort and calm.

It made me think back to when I first arrived in Taiwan twenty years ago. I showed up with only a couple of suitcases and no smartphone (seems inconceivable now, eh?). I had no Google Maps to save me, yet I had this incredible ability to adapt.

Back then, getting lost felt like an adventure. A wrong turn was just a chance to discover something new.

But as we get older and life gets fuller with hustle, bustle, and responsibilities, doesn’t it seem like we get more stuck in our ways? Somewhere along the line, unexpected twists and turns stopped feeling like opportunities to take the scenic route. Instead, they started feeling like roadblocks or giant flashing “under construction” signs to avoid.

We start to resent the zigzag.

When we set new goals, like a New Year's resolution, we usually have a clear picture of the destination. We want a straight line to get there. We expect instantaneous results because so much is expected of us in this fast-paced world.

So when we inevitably hit a detour, we get frustrated. We may even talk to ourselves like we’re faulty machinery because we aren't operating at 100% efficiency.

But we aren't machines. We are human.

And the "human way" is not one of perfection, seamless growth, or turbulence-free journeys.

This is where self-compassion comes in.

A large part of the health and wellness coaching I have done this past year focuses on shifting this perspective. We learn to see missteps not as failures, but simply as data.

If you miss a workout or eat something that wasn't on your plan, it isn't a character flaw. It’s just data telling you that maybe you’re stressed, need more rest, or that your plan can be adjusted to better suit you.

We need to turn on our "Gentle Human GPS."

Think about a real GPS. When you miss a turn, it doesn't scream at you, "Well, you missed the exit, so you might as well abort your mission!”

It simply says: "Recalculating."

This week, I invite you to adopt that same mindset. If you are struggling with the zigzags of January, don't quit. Don't beat yourself up for not having "arrived."

Just take a breath, show yourself some kindness, and whisper "recalculating" as you gently steer yourself back to your goals or to the dance floor.

See you in class (where zigzags are part of the choreography)!

Keep moving!

xx,

Katie