I’ve grown weary of New Year’s resolutions, and you probably have too. 

They often promise an overnight transformation, a ‘new you’ that feels more like a myth than a possibility. How do you replicate a total paradigm shift on command?

The truth is, that kind of change isn’t the norm.

The pressure for that instant change is ridiculous. We want to sprint to a finish line on January 31st, then forget about the rest of the year. But a meaningful change is a marathon. Real change is typically a slow, steady process of turning intention into action. And the finish line is definitely further than a month into the future.

A Guiding Theme for  Real Progress 

For years now, I’ve chosen a yearly theme rather than a resolution. A theme isn’t a single goal; it’s a compass for an entire journey. It’s a guiding principle intended to colour my every decision, to give a sense of purpose to my daily efforts.

My own journey with themes began with a happy accident. I discovered the idea of a “word of the year” and it clicked, thanks to my love for the journey over the destination.

Maybe you’ve experienced this too: when I focus on the process, results show up. When I focus on results, I get frustrated easier, the process becomes an annoyance,  and you guessed it, I give up before results show up.

So my first theme, in  2021 was Relentless Output. The idea was simple: Just create more. That year, I blogged and produced music consistently. It was a hugely productive year.

This theme, however, led to a new realisation. It’s one thing to increase quantity but what about quality? That question led to my 2022 theme: Application. My goal was to apply myself, increase  the quality of my creations. 

Then I realised that better quality takes more time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a masterpiece, a business, or a body of work. This is why my theme for both 2023 and 2024 was Consistent Application. It was a reminder to not give up easily and to avoid chasing the next exciting thing as soon as obstacles appeared.

Then as 2024 wound down, my approach for the new year became clear. For 2025, my theme would be Triple Impact.

You see, I had a surge of motivation (thanks to my readers and also a brand consultant), and I was determined to use it. 

I decided I would push in three areas: music, writing, websites. I released a new song and short story each month, launched 2 additional websites that I created content for.

It was a lot to take on and I hit major hurdles, as explained in my last update. 

But it was well worth it. I don’t regret it one bit. Here’s a more analytical way of describing my experience:

Right now, I’m thinking about next year’s theme. I’ve chosen it already in fact. More on that soon.

Do you have your theme for next year? Or have you started to think about it? Let me know!

Reflect, Redefine, Rise!

R.