New Beginnings
Resolutions To Transform Your Life
New Beginnings
Resolutions To Transform Your Life
With Caroline Phipps and DJ Rick Schneider
Aired on Friday, February 27, 2026
This segment from the Up and Running Morning Show on 98.1 KZE features Caroline Phipps, founder of Living with Inner Elegance, in a monthly conversation with DJ Rick Schneider. The discussion centers on personal growth, the significance of the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Fire Horse, and the pitfalls of New Year’s resolutions, culminating in a call for mindful self-awareness and presence.
Caroline explains the meaning of the Fire Horse (an animal-element pairing that last occurred in 1966), describing its themes of passion, leadership, independence, and adventure, while reminding listeners to harness that energy with clarity and discipline. She connects the astrological moment to broader cultural shifts and the personal potential for fresh beginnings.
The hosts dig into the perennial topic of New Year’s resolutions: why so many fail, how thinking alone won’t create lasting change (quoting Einstein), and the pitfalls of guilt-driven, all-or-nothing promises like dry January or impulse gym sign-ups. Caroline reframes the solution: instead of external fixes, make a single inner resolution to observe and engage with yourself more skillfully.
Key practical takeaways include naming and noticing your “saboteur” voice, creating a pause or gap before reacting, checking in with how you truly feel, and choosing disciplined, present responses over autopilot habits. Caroline offers concrete ways to step out of habitual patterns — especially when fear, anger, or self-doubt try to hijack decisions — and emphasizes that small, conscious choices in real time compound into real transformation.
Ultimately, the episode is an invitation to treat personal development as a sacred obligation: show up, be present, and grow so you can better serve others. Caroline and Rick close with a call to co-create a kinder world and celebrate that every moment offers a new beginning.
How to connect: listeners are invited to email Caroline at caroline@carolinephipps.com and visit carolinephipps.com to access a growing archive of videos, podcasts and articles. Caroline is offering a chance to win a free consultation for one lucky person who reaches out — a practical next step for anyone ready to transform resolutions into real change.
Key Themes and Insights
Chinese Zodiac and the Year of the Fire Horse:
The Chinese zodiac combines 12 animals with 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water), cycling every 60 years.
2024 marks the Year of the Fire Horse, last seen in 1966, a year noted for significant social, political, and cultural upheaval.
The Fire Horse symbolizes passion, leadership, adventure, energy, and independence, suggesting a period of transformation and new beginnings.
The previous year was the Wood Snake, associated with shedding the old and embracing the new, reinforcing a theme of renewal.
Reflection on New Year’s Resolutions:
Resolutions are often made under exhaustion and pressure, focusing on weight loss, fitness, finances, or abstinence (e.g., Dry January).
Many resolutions fail because they rely on the same mindset that created the original problems.
Quoting Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them.”
Failed resolutions often lead to disappointment and self-sabotage, fueling negative coping behaviors.
The Only Necessary Resolution – Self-Observation:
Caroline advocates for a single, profound resolution: to take ourselves on by becoming aware of the internal duality between the “saboteur voice” and our higher self.
The saboteur voice tempts procrastination, indulgence, and self-doubt, while the conscious self strives for discipline, clarity, and growth.
Recognizing and creating space between stimulus and reaction helps avoid autopilot behaviors and regrettable actions.
Self-awareness involves examining past fears, current resistance, and future anxieties, which often hinder change.
Being present and mindful allows us to embrace change as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat.
Importance of Presence and Mindfulness:
Growth requires showing up fully in the present moment, letting go of past regrets and future catastrophizing.
Emotional triggers (fear, anger) can lead to reactive behaviors unless observed with mindful distance.
Every moment is a new beginning, offering a chance to transform thoughts, words, and deeds.
Community and Collective Growth:
Personal development is framed as a sacred obligation, enabling individuals to uplift others.
Collective improvement thrives when individuals come together with dignity and grace, co-creating a better world.
The alignment of planetary events metaphorically supports this period of transformation.
Practical Advice and Recommendations
Avoid relying solely on traditional resolutions; instead, focus on self-awareness and observing internal dialogues.
Create mental space between impulse and reaction to prevent destructive habitual patterns.
Recognize and challenge the saboteur voice with compassion and clarity.
Embrace change as a positive force, not a threat, to enable personal and collective growth.
Engage with communities and resources like Living with Inner Elegance for ongoing support and inspiration.
Conclusion
The conversation with Caroline Phipps emphasizes that true transformation begins with mindful self-observation and presence, rather than external resolutions. The symbolic Year of the Fire Horse invites individuals to harness their inner passion and leadership with clarity and discipline. By understanding and managing the internal saboteur, people can break free from destructive cycles and contribute positively to themselves and the broader community. The Living with Inner Elegance initiative provides a supportive framework for this journey of personal and collective evolution.