My word for this year was consistency. For the past three years, I have been setting goals for the year and planning how I work towards them. At times, I have been over-ambitious, so I learned from the first year of goal setting to be more realistic with the targets I set for myself and how many I set!
Thinking about next year, my word for 2025 is intent. It is arguably similar to consistency, but I learned this year that the intent behind my goals is what helped me to see them through. I am a planner - I love to plan. I get excited about the planning process…but the execution of zed plan is where the stress begins. At that point I start to doubt and then self-sabotage, thinking I lack the potential, capacity or ability to see this goal through. In 2025, I am going to be more intentional about my goals and not let doubt or imposter syndrome prevent me from achieving them.
In my reflections for this year, I have been encouraged by people’s journeys, and honestly, that has also inspired my word for next year. I’m always interested in people’s stories and how they have reached their current place in life, as I believe that is one of the most interesting and best ways to learn and grow - to learn and grow from each other. Seeing and observing people be intentional about achieving their goals has been inspiring to me.
During this season, we’re exposed to people’s highlights of the year, which can be daunting, even frustrating when you’re still waiting … waiting for that job… a child… financial break… but observing people’s highlights this year, I’ve been encouraged by their journeys. I’ve been more aware of the fact that highlights reflect a starting point, whether that be a couples’ fertility journey or a friend launching their small business - their starting point is very different to their end point.
My journey is a testament to that. This is one of the first years where I can look back and see that every bump in the road was worth it. My highlights this year follow the lowlights of previous years, but the highlights would never have happened without them. A reflection I wrote in 2019 is very different to this one. I went through a situation that resulted in me having to rebuild my life and start again. So, to be where I am now, I am thankful.
I was listening to a podcast, which referred to a book titled ‘The Compound Effect’, which, in essence, is about the importance of the small decisions we make and the incremental steps we take that lead us to the great big things. I may not be there yet, but I have the power to make decisions now that will take me to where I need to be.
In saying that, this year, I’ve also been conflicted by the atrocities that are devastating our world. Battling the question of what can I do to help and change what is happening to communities of people. We may not have the answer now, but I think that when we are willing to answer the question and battle with the answers, we are taking those incremental steps to the solution.
So, this season, my perspective is to continue to be encouraged and inspired by the journey of others and their highlights as they have travailed to achieve their successes. Also to be thankful for an opportunity to take those incremental steps towards the goals set, looking forward to all that can be achieved in 2025.
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