29 Jan Build Momentum in 2026: The Year of the Horse
By Barbara K. Stump, MA
You may not know it yet, or perhaps your social media feeds have been flooded with reels, but 2026 is the “Year of the Horse”, and I for one, am here for it. Who else doesn’t want to shed the “Year of the Snake” and build momentum in 2026?! I love everything that the zodiac horse symbolizes: energy, freedom, confidence, determination, creativity, passion, strength, and grace. The Chinese New Year officially starts February 17th, and this horse, also known as the “Fire Horse,” only arrives every 60 years.
How much do you know about the Chinese New Year and this cultural tradition? In a January 2, 2026 article from USA Today (When is the Chinese New Year? In 2026, it’s the Year of the Horse) it explains that the Chinese New Year is also called the Lunar New Year, and many countries, not just China recognize this holiday. The article included that the, “Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian cultures, including in China, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.” According to a December 30th, 2025 article from Forbes magazine (Here’s the Date for Chinese New Year 2026—And What Animal You Are), “A quarter of the world’s 8.2 billion people will celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 17, 2026.” That’s a lot of people!
How do people celebrate the Chinese New Year? The Smithsonian—National Museum of Asian Art, shares that the holiday not only is a celebration, but it’s considered the arrival of spring and the start of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions such as: decorating windows with red paper cuttings, adorning doors with good wishes, cleaning houses, special foods, and visiting elders. “The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday, a feast with a spread of symbolic dishes, such as a whole fish representing abundance, that bring good luck and fortune. The fifteenth and final day of the holiday is the Lantern Festival, during which people have tangyuan, or sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to mark the end of the celebration.”
The Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year, is celebrated across Asia, but it may also be celebrated differently depending on the region. Some of you reading this may be born in the year of the horse, while others of you may have a different Chinese Zodiac sign. You can reference your birth year with the list below to find your sign. Here is the order of the Chinese Zodiac:
- Rat- 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
- Ox- 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
- Tiger-1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
- Rabbit (in Vietnam, the rabbit is replaced by the cat)-1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
- Dragon-1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
- Snake-1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
- Horse-1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
- Goat-1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
- Monkey-1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
- Rooster-1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2016, 2029
- Dog-1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2017, 2030
- Boar/Pig-1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1982, 1995, 2007, 2018, 2031
What do you think of your Chinese Zodiac sign? Each of the signs have unique traits, and if 2026 is not your sign’s year, you can certainly still celebrate all that the horse sign represents. In an article published at the beginning of January 2026, by Parade magazine, Janine Lowe, Chinese astrologist and author of the book, Feng Shui Your Way to Abundance, shared that the, “Fire Horse energy amplifies the Horse’s natural independence and restlessness, creating a powerful drive for freedom, self-expression, and breaking away from limitations.” So, starting February 17th, and for the next 12 months, we have the opportunity to find ways to engage in the spirit of this fiery horse, and why not get the new year off to a positive start? To quote author Alex Morritt, “New year—a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately, we write it. The choice is ours.”
I don’t think you have to become fixated on new year’s resolutions for 2026 to embody the Year of the Horse. My take on this is it’s more of what do you want to become, and what matters to you right now. Every year of our life, and every season of our life, is different. Something you may have wanted for your life five years ago, might not fit into who you are today. Likewise, we may be grieving things, or trying to overcome obstacles as we start this new year, and that is ok. “All of us every single year, we’re a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all of our lives.”—Steven Spielberg
So, how do we get started in 2026 without resolutions? Tony Daloisio, Ph.D., wrote an article in Psychology Today in December of 2025 titled, Why the Most Important Decisions of 2026 Aren’t Your Goals, makes a case for not rushing into resolutions, and Daloisio suggests starting with these key questions:
- Who am I becoming?
- What season am I in?
- What am I willing to say no to?
- How do I want my life to feel?
- What will I be proud of in five years?
I like this approach, because it makes you more invested in yourself on an emotional level, not just goal setting. If you would like to read more of Daloisio’s article you can do so by clicking on this link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/blog/the-journey-of-your-life/202512/why-the-most-important-decisions-of-2026-arent-your-goals
How do you want to feel this year? Do the positive traits from the fiery horse such as: energy, freedom, confidence, determination, creativity, passion, strength, and grace interest you? Journaling is a great way to figure out some of these things for yourself and build momentum into deciding who you want to become in 2026. Here are some possible journaling ideas that you might want to try exploring this first month:
- Gratitude Journaling- every day write down something that you were thankful for that day. For example: being thankful for watching a movie with a friend, or snowboarding, or a rest day.
- Write Down Three Things You Like About Yourself Every Day for a Month- Build up your confidence, self-awareness, and decide what you like about yourself. Create a confident lifestyle, and believe in yourself, by being more sure of yourself. Figure out who you are and what you like. For example you may write: I like that I am creative, I like having a pet, I like coconut flavored foods.
- Write Down Three Things You Contributed to Your Day for a Month- Answer the question what did you add to the day? See ways in which you have something to offer, and can make a difference. For example: I shoveled our sidewalk, I went grocery shopping, I helped my colleague by giving her a ride home from work.
- A Proof Jar- write down one thing that went right once a week. For example: a presentation that you gave, a meal that you made that others enjoyed, a new skill that you learned how to do. How rewarding will this be to read all of them at the end of the year? This could even be done with your family, or a partner, and read together on New Year’s Eve to celebrate all of the wonderful things you accomplished together.
- Art Journaling- Find a day once a week to listen to music and draw whatever comes to mind. It does not have to be a complete drawing, it can be a doodle or a design. It could be as short as 5-10 minutes. Just allow yourself to relax, get lost in the drawing (practice mindfulness), and find a sense of calmness to help you feel more centered. Below is one of my 5 minute doodles that I did while listening to the song, “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. It made me think of a casual conductor controlling the orchestra, while orchestrating his own life at the same time.
- Journaling About Books-If you are a reader, record a line or two from a book that resonates with you while you are reading it. You may find that by reflecting on a line, or a passage, the book may become more rewarding to read. Also, you may discover more things that you like about yourself, or would like to strive to be in the future. I do not belong to a book club, so this is something I am trying this year!
Perhaps you already practice journaling? If not, why not give it a try? All of the above ideas can be utilized on and off throughout the year. You might be surprised at how writing down your feelings can help you to process what you want to become in 2026. Possibly by making journaling a habit, you can help yourself to feel more present in your life and with others. I know for me, it helps me to feel more centered and brings a sense of calmness to my day. The momentum to move forward is up to you. “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” —Oprah Winfrey
Barbara K. Stump is an art education consultant and G3 contributing writer.
