Goals

Goals are an interesting thing. They start off with good intentions but become increasingly overwhelming with time. I’m sure you have some goals you’re trying to implement into 2025 or maybe you fall into the category of “I’m not much of a New Year’s resolution type of person”. Either way, there is something about the new year that brings a lightness and new energy into our lives. It’s a new start, a total refresh, whether you’re a resolution person or not. 

I’ve never been much of a resolution person myself. I mean, I would write down a few things I wanted to achieve because that’s what I thought we were supposed to do, but then quickly forget about it. Most of the time all it ever amounted to was a memory that lived hidden somewhere on a page. That was until last year. I created a list of goals along with a vision board and actually thought about implementing those things into my new life, and surprise – it worked. At the end of 2024, when I looked back on my vision board, I had completed almost every single thing on my board. Yes, it was nice to say that I “checked the boxes”, but really I was proud of the work I had done to become this fulfilled version of myself. I enjoyed every step of the way – even the obstacles. I felt like I had pushed myself to unlock the potential that I had seen within myself for years.

This year I have goals, as many people do. It’s easy to feel motivated and inspired in the beginning. I feel excited, ambitious, and hungry yet overwhelmed and paralyzed all at the same time. I have so many goals that I want to work towards this year, that at times I don’t know where to even begin. How do I become an even better, happier version of myself? I feel lost in my ambition but motivated by the life I see myself having. I can feel it as though it has already happened, yet trying to figure out the steps to get there seems daunting. Analysis paralysis wins again. There are so many things that I want to do, but there just never seem to be enough hours in the day. I have goals within my career, my social life, travel, financials, and hobbies, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. How do I balance it all? Will I always feel spread thin to pursue the things I want? I know this is the time in my life to focus on myself and achieving these goals, but sometimes it feels so heavy. What are the next steps to the next phase of my life? How exactly do I get there?

I like to think of my future self and where I want to be in life, then start acting like her right now. Take the steps as though you are already them, and eventually you will become them. What is her morning routine? What is her job? What kind of hobbies does she enjoy? What does she wear? What is her posture like? Where does she live? What does she eat? What type of content does she consume? Who does she surround herself with? What does she read? The list goes on and on. It takes work, and I am nowhere near the final version of myself – and honestly, I don’t fully think there ever really is a “final” version of ourselves because we are always learning, growing, and changing – but sometimes I think it’s important to dream and visualize the life you want. But dreaming only takes you so far. It’s time to start acting – doing. Even if you don’t reach all of your goals, working towards them is invigorating and a reward in itself. It gives you purpose and a reason to elevate yourself. As cliche as that saying is about enjoying the journey and not just the destination, I believe that to be true. Why wait for a distant goal to bring fulfillment when you can start living as your future self today, enjoying the process, embracing the challenges, and finding joy in each step toward your aspirations?

Let’s be overwhelmed together. To me, it’s worth taking a shot. Why not try? What are you waiting for?