New Year, eti New You!

It’s a new year, and we’ve written our resolutions. I also made my vision board, and I’m stoked for what 2025 has in store. But let’s be real—most of us start the year strong, only to fall back to our old habits. The gyms are packed, salads are being devoured, Atomic Habits is getting reread, and even churches see more people in the pews. Few weeks in and you are back like you never left.

So, how can we actually follow through this year?

1. Be Real with Yourself

If you spent 2024 doomscrolling for hours, deciding to quit cold turkey isn’t realistic. Your brain’s reward pathways are already hardwired for that dopamine hit. A more practical approach could be something lread for 20 minutes, then allow yourself 15 minutes of scrolling. Over time, as you see the value in what you read, the appeal for other things will fall off.

2. Stop Overplanning

Want to start journaling or doing Bible study? Instead of diving into Genesis, you might tell yourself, “I need a new notebook,” or “I should find a study partner,” or even “I need the perfect playlist to invite the Holy Spirit.” Stop. Start with what you have. Use your old notebook and a pen that barely works if that’s all you’ve got. Enough with chasing aesthetics—just start. If it's in having confidence, you become bold when you have competence. Instead of waiting for the feeling, chase competence in either speaking well, being informed in a certain topic or having a certain skill.

Think about the creation story: God said He would do something, He did it, He admired His work, and He blessed it. It’s that simple. If you want to finish your homework, open the PDF and start typing—don’t wait for the “perfect” environment or mood. Do your best and pat yourself on the back when you’re done.

3. Embrace Small Wins

Not every day in 2025 will be a high. If you finish all your problem sets in one sitting, great. If you can only do one today, that’s still progress. The key is to keep moving forward. If happiness is your goal, remember: we feel happy when we meet our responsibilities. Clean your room—you’ll feel good about being responsible. Call your parents—you’ll feel good about maintaining your relationships/connections. Keep overthinking, and you’ll rob yourself of joy.

4. Embrace Spontaneity

We often create unnecessary rules for ourselves. “I can’t just leave this relationship that no longer serves me because of a gut feeling-it doesn’t feel like a good enough reason.” So what? If your gut says someone isn’t good for you, trust it.

This year, stop waiting for things to get so bad that the decision becomes obvious. Trust yourself. Those imaginary rules and regulations holding you back? Let them go. For example, “I can’t just ask her for help; we haven’t spoken in ages.” Yes, you can. Admit you’re in the wrong, reach out, and ask for help.

If it’s grief, stop postponing dealing with your emotions. Who says you can only cry in bed? Cry wherever you are. Confront people if you need to. Stop making excuses and pushing everything for later.

5. Think, Act, and Keep Moving

This year, we won’t just plan or talk about plans. We’ll think, act, and keep moving forward. Small actions compound over time, leading to the success we’re working toward.

While waiting for that success, let’s practice gratitude. Embrace an abundance mindset. There's so much for everyone. When we see good things happening for others, we thank God because so much more is happening—and will happen—for us.

The Lord rejoices to see the work start. So start! 

2025, here we come!

Zechariah 4:10

Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?””

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