My Most Ambitious Year Yet: "Stay Me"
Why striving to "stay the same" might be more ambitious than you think
Let me provide some context before I share my 2025 goals with you. (If you are too curious to wait, scroll to the bottom for my goals table!).
If you're wondering why you're receiving a goals newsletter in February, it's because today is my birthday—this is when I finalize my annual theme. 😊 Now is also a time when you might be re-evaluating the goals you set for yourself in January, especially if they're not progressing as you had envisioned. If you are still solidifying your goals or rethinking them, please allow me to make a case for setting unambitious, incremental goals or even striving to stay the same (gasp!).
The new year presents an excellent chance to pause, reset, and establish goals—if the goals you want are clear. If you are an ambitious go-getter, not setting a goal might feel uncomfortable, like you are planning to underachieve or stagnate.
But sometimes, intentionally and mindfully staying the course or "staying the same" can be just as bold and challenging. Embracing your current state (maybe making incremental changes) can be just as ambitious and necessary for your overall growth.
Maintain to thrive
Staying the same is actually quite difficult. After 30, we lose 3-5% muscle mass each decade, the mean weight gain in adults over 10 years is close to 10 lbs, we start losing friends after 25, and even our cognitive abilities, to name a few. If neglected, these incremental declines can snowball into significant transformations that become daunting to overcome one day.
That's why "New Year, Same Me" isn't a resignation to stagnation: it recognizes that the goal of maintaining what might already be good in your life (habits, relationships, health) is an ambitious endeavor. If you have unintentionally developed a productive routine, commit to continuing it and maybe adding an incremental step. For me, it is adding fish oil and creatine to my protein-focused breakfast (a new habit from 2024). "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," they say, and I am trying to work on an ounce of effort every day to maintain my health, which requires mindful habits.
For you, it might mean making an effort to strengthen the bond with the friends you already have instead of "I need to make new friends," Or, instead of, "I'm going to learn a new hobby," picking up one you left behind" Or acknowledging your spouse's evolution and figuring out how to maintain a strong partnership before you grow too far apart. Or if you find that your bedtime has drifted an hour later than you would like, shift it back incrementally throughout the year until you reach a target time.
Thriving can be about tending to what's already great rather than starting something new. Also, when focusing on 1-2 major goals, we tend to allow other aspects of our lives to fall behind or sacrifice in service of those high-priority goals. This might be the year we push across (or hold steady) multiple fronts to strengthen our foundation so that we are ready to propel higher again next year.
Maximize your recent wins
When we push ourselves to set new goals, we often overlook the opportunity to appreciate our recent successes fully. For example, if you secured a great job last year, you might feel pressured to set ambitious new goals again, like seeking a promotion, to maintain a sense of progress.
I encourage you to take some time to acclimate to your new role, celebrate your achievements, and expand your perspectives before rushing back into a path of linear goal-setting. Consider reconnecting with old contacts to refresh your network; your new title may enable you to attend industry conferences or events. Additionally, now could be the perfect time to reach out if you've been seeking mentorship.
Consider an athlete who has just won a game and is eager to continue their success. The best strategy is not to immediately rush into the next match or do overly intense training. Instead, it's essential to renew and replenish thoughtfully. This means reflecting on what contributed to the win, getting ample sleep and physical therapy, learning new plays, or investing in new equipment before resuming training and competition.
This approach is not about being complacent; it's about pausing to reflect on non-linear growth paths and identifying new ways to leverage your momentum. Thoughtful rest and evaluating opportunities you may have overlooked while pursuing previous goals are crucial. Additionally, taking the time to celebrate the joy of winning is essential for maintaining motivation.
Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability
Life is unpredictable. If the start of 2025 is a harbinger of what is ahead, I am sure it will be another year of volatility, challenges, and resilience—and that is just macro factors. Staying the course despite what happens is a worthy and challenging goal if you expect a difficult year.
For instance, resolving to be a steadfast leader when you foresee your company going through a challenging time, upholding your boundaries and having difficult conversations with new colleagues to do so, or not skipping your gym session no matter how busy your schedule becomes all require you to be agile and flexible, "just" to stay the course.
Being a great driver means paying attention to the road ahead and responding safely and appropriately to what you encounter. You may pick a new route, drive a newer car, or learn to operate a manual transmission. However, most of your time will be spent "staying the course" and adapting to changing road conditions to reach your destination.
It's essential to ensure that you are well-rested, knowledgeable about your route, and have enough gas for your journey. This alone is a significant undertaking, especially when you anticipate unpredictable road conditions. While intentionally creating some slack in your life might feel uncomfortable or "lazy," allowing for extra space will enable you to adapt more efficiently throughout the year.
What do your goals look like this year?
While working on this article, I spoke to a friend who recently took the bold step of resigning from a very successful career in finance to return to school to become a holistic medicine practitioner. She felt guilty about not setting an ambitious annual goal but felt that focusing on her classes was already taxing enough without looking for new goals.
When working on a multi-year goal or just trying to maintain what you have today, every year doesn't have to be about creating a "new you." Sometimes, you're already on the path to becoming your best self and need refinement and incremental growth, not reinvention. Think of yourself as a gardener who planted a seedling some time ago: this may be the year of watering and nurturing, not planting a new one.
What do my goals look like this year?
With that context, I will now share my 2025 goals in 3x3 under the theme of “Level-Up.” I plan to recommit to the good habits I have developed and consciously expand them in ways that will incrementally and consistently enhance my physical, emotional, and mental well-being. As my professional goals are inextricably intertwined with my company goals, I will remove some specifics from this version. If you are curious about the specifics of my goals, let me know (“get a haircut” might seem odd to some).
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