Before you set new goals this year, it might be worth questioning old beliefs—because not every belief you have should come with you into the new year.

Beliefs can be sneaky. They run the show in the background, influencing how we lead, the decisions we make, and how we react—often without us even realizing it. If we don’t bring them into the light, they quietly run the program.

Gayle Lantz identifies 10 beliefs worth questioning as we step into a new year. Not because they’re wrong, but because they’re simply not useful—and there are better ideas that will serve you far more effectively.

She challenges leaders to examine the beliefs they’re telling themselves. For example, “The story I’m telling myself is true.” As Gayle shared, she’s had to remind herself over and over, it may not be. It’s just a story. 

From “work has to be hard” to “I have no choice” to “people can’t really change,” Gayle tackles beliefs that keep leaders stuck, depleted, or playing smaller than necessary. She offers fresh perspectives on AI, communication, reinvention, and what truly matters most—along with reflective questions to help you do your best thinking.

The episode invites you to consider where you’ve been equating struggle with value, where you’re assuming clarity instead of checking for it, and what growth you might be waiting for someone else to make possible.

This episode covers:

• Why beliefs influence leadership more than we realize
• 10 common beliefs worth questioning in the new year
• How to separate facts from the stories we create
• Why “work has to be hard” limits creativity and energy
• The belief that you’re supposed to finish your to-do list (and why that sets you up for constant pressure)
• Why embracing AI matters and how fear keeps you in reactive mode
• The fastest way to stay stuck: believing “I have no choice”
• How to create space for growth instead of labeling people as unchangeable
• Why fear, uncertainty, and disruption are often powerful teachers
• The truth about reinvention: it starts with small intentional shifts, not dramatic overhauls
• Reflective questions to help you identify and release what’s holding you back

Key Question: What belief do you need to let go of, leave behind or change? 

Let that be your starting point for this new year.