Each year at our church, we hold a white stone ceremony to celebrate the New Year. It’s a tradition where we meditate to receive a word or intention to guide us for the coming year. The white stone itself is a symbol of spiritual rebirth and freedom. Historically, it was given to someone leaving prison as a mark of their clean slate. We write our word on the stone, and it becomes a tangible anchor for the year ahead.
I’ve always felt so much pressure when we do this: “UGH, I never meditate right! I’m going to pick the wrong word. It won’t be perfect.”
This year, the word that came to me, very simply and quietly, was: Student.
For most of my adult work life, my New Year “goals” have lived squarely in the world of doing. Do more. Do it faster. Do it better. Do it bigger. And while there’s nothing wrong with growth or ambition, I realized something this year. So many of my past resolutions were rooted in repair. In pressure. In trying to upgrade myself like a software patch.
This year felt different.
When the word “student” came to me, it felt right immediately. Not a word about fixing something I messed up last year. Not a word about hustling harder or becoming some polished future version of myself.
I wanted a word rooted in being, not doing.
Here’s what I mean by that: doing is about output. Being is about who we show up as. Doing chases results. Being shapes the person creating them. And after years of pushing, building, growing, and stretching—all good things—I felt a deep pull toward something softer, steadier, and surprisingly powerful: being a student.
Interestingly, I cherish this part of myself as my father’s daughter. I’ve always said, “He was a lifelong student and a voracious learner.” A student isn’t perfect. A student doesn’t know everything right out of the gate. A student studies. A student is curious. A student flops a test every once in a while. And a student finds teachers everywhere.
There’s something incredibly freeing about that posture.
And, as a student, I began a new morning ritual recently: study time. Real study time with A Course in Miracles (ACIM). At first, I felt like I was doing it all wrong. That I should have a proper notebook. That I should be highlighting the book. That I should understand it all.
Then I took a breath and reminded myself: I am a student.
When you’re studying something new, it’s supposed to be messy. You don’t start with perfect notes and complete comprehension. You start with curiosity and confusion and questions.
I made this same commitment to myself when I launched SWAY | LIVE. I gave myself five years to “figure it all out.” We’re on year four. And we’re still learning. Not because we’re behind or doing it wrong, but because that’s what students do. We experiment. We adjust. We discover what works by trying what doesn’t first.
Being a student gives me permission to grow without judgment. To try without needing to nail it. To ask better questions instead of pretending I already have the answers.
This year, I’m not chasing perfection. I’m practicing presence. Not striving to arrive. Just showing up as a student. Whether that’s in my work, my relationships, my leadership, my creativity, my “grand mothering”, or even the quiet moments in between.
So if you’re feeling that familiar January pressure to overhaul your life, here’s a gentle reframe:
What if growth didn’t require fixing?
What if it simply invited learning?
What if it acknowledged where you are already perfect?
Be unforgettable,
~ Sheri
P.S. This was one of the conversations we had at a recent SWAY Collective intensive. Here’s a bit more about that retreat.
1. What does it mean to “be a student” in everyday life?
Being a student means approaching life with curiosity, humility, and openness. It’s about learning as you go, asking better questions, and allowing growth without demanding perfection.
2. How is “being” different from “doing”?
Doing focuses on output, achievement, and results. Being focuses on identity, presence, and how you show up. Sustainable growth often starts with being before doing.
3. Why is a student mindset helpful for personal growth?
A student mindset creates space for mistakes, experimentation, and learning. Instead of judging yourself for not knowing everything, you give yourself permission to grow step by step.
4. How can I practice being a student this year?
Start with curiosity. Create regular time for reflection, study, journaling, or conversation. Let yourself begin imperfectly and focus on learning instead of performing.
5. What if I feel pressure to “fix” myself in the New Year?
Try reframing growth as learning rather than repair. You may not need fixing—you may simply need space to listen, notice, and grow with compassion.