Breaking the Cycle: How To Conquer Unfulfilled New Year’s Resolutions in 2025
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I’ve always been the kind of person who could plan, visualize, and daydream with the best of them. Yet, when it came time to execute those plans, I found myself stuck—trapped in a cycle of imagining the work but never actually doing it.
At the core of this paralysis was fear—fear of failure and, oddly enough, fear of success. But after reflecting on how many opportunities I’ve let slip by and the potential I’ve wasted over the years, I made a decision: the new year will be different.
I decide that it was going to be my year of conquering New Year’s Resolutions, my year of sprouting, my year of doing the difficult things, even when it’s scary, embarrassing, or overwhelming. After all, no one has ever died from embarrassment; I can assure you that I am writing this alive and well!
How Anxiety Holds You Back
Looking back, I could see that fear was always a silent driver in my life. As a child, I was bullied, and that experience left me living in constant fear, as though someone was always watching, waiting to ridicule me.
I became the shy person who avoided the spotlight, dimming my light so that I wouldn’t draw attention. Anxiety has been a constant companion, holding me hostage in social situations.
My heart would race, my chest would tighten, and I’d feel as though the world was closing in on me. And the saddest part? I love people.
I genuinely want to connect, to be there for others, but my anxiety often kept me on the sidelines, limiting my friendships to WhatsApp messages and phone calls.
Life had passed me by, driven by fear. Even the major decisions in my life—like the university I attended and the career I chose—were made out of a desire to avoid the crowds, to stay hidden.
In 2019, at just 21 years old, I unexpectedly fell pregnant, and it felt like my entire life came crashing down. I was scared, ashamed, and disappointed in myself. I hadn’t figured out my life yet, and I had so many dreams still unfulfilled.
I was living with my mom, and I had just left a promising career as an accountant to pursue a passion in the creative industry. But when I discovered I was pregnant, I made the timid decision to put everything on hold.
I stayed home, unemployed, throughout my pregnancy and for nearly a year after my beautiful baby was born. Two years of my life slipped away, just like that.
Self – Awareness
When I finally sobered up from that period, I realized how broken I was. I saw how fear had dictated so much of my life. Despite my talents and beauty, I had no confidence and nothing tangible to show for the gifts I’d been given.
I wish I could tell you that after that realization, I went hard after my dreams and started overcoming fear and anxiety. But that’s not what happened. Instead, I got stuck in a loop of self-help content that made me more self-aware but did nothing for my discipline or productivity.
I felt paralyzed by the sheer effort it would take to get back on my feet. I did manage to return to work as an accountant while exploring ways to make an income online, but I still felt like a shadow of myself, operating in the dark, still that sad, scared little girl.
Full List of All The Books That Helped Me
The Power of Taking Action
Two years ago, I came across Dr. Jordan Peterson’s work, and it was like a light switch flipped in my mind. I realized that I had given too much power to my circumstances and the things that had happened to me.
I began to see that my life was in my own hands. Regardless of what life throws my way, I am responsible for how I respond. My reaction to what has happened is far more significant than the events themselves.
Admitting to myself that I had become what I would consider a “loser” was painful, but it was necessary.
But this post isn’t just about my journey—it’s about 2025 goal-setting, breaking unfulfilled resolutions and the importance of making the most of the time we have left in 2024.
There’s still enough time to pick up our tools, to turn the soil, to plant and water our seeds. We can still fail, try something new, and get back up when we’re knocked down. I encourage you to get out of your head.
You’ve planned enough, you’ve thought about it enough, but nothing will come to life until you begin.
Just Do It
Let’s make these remaining months about turning the soil, planting our seeds, and nurturing them so that 2025 becomes our year of sprouting.
When it’s time to make New Year’s resolutions, let’s focus on protecting and growing our seedlings by continuing to work hard and care for them.
You deserve to see what your hands can create, to feel the satisfaction of bringing your daydreams to life, and to know the joy of earning your rest.
This blog post is my way of continuing to turn the soil of my growth while also creating a community that thrives on accountability. I’ve put in the work, and I know what it takes.
But trust me, you’ll still feel scared when it comes to doing the things that matter. It’s easy to look at people who seem accomplished (whatever that means to you) and assume it’s because they have life all figured out.
Oh, Bestie, nobody does. We’re all just figuring it out as we go, and the longer we take on challenges and face them head-on, the more we learn and grow.
So yes, I was scared, but I did it. I was embarrassed, but I did it. I was overwhelmed, and my ADHD screamed at me to abandon everything—but I did it anyway.
And I’m still doing it. Bestie, I hope this inspires you to get started on your own dreams and goals. I’m so excited for your growth and the harvest that awaits you.
The Tools I’m Using/Used to Stay on Track:
My Transformation Journal
This journal has been pivotal in my growth, helping me stay the course.
How I Used It:
- Planning with Intention: When I began, I had a 3-hour planning session with myself to map out what I wanted my transformation to look like.
I needed to make peace with the traumatic events of my past. I sat down with a notebook, poured my heart out, and cried as I revisited some of the horrors. But I pressed on.
I wrote with intention, knowing I had to untie the emotional knots and find ways to use the pain for good and to overcome it. - Self-Discovery: I realized that the only way forward was to take responsibility for myself. So, I turned the page and started a section I now call “Self-Discovery.”
I asked myself, Who am I? and Who do I want to be? Bestie, this was the hardest part. What I wrote down wasn’t pretty.
I had to face the reality that, aside from being a trauma survivor, I didn’t think much of myself.
I was barely holding on, but I was surviving—miserably. - Finding Virtue in Myself: Even though I wasn’t who I wanted to be, I knew there was still virtue in me, and I wasn’t going to discount myself.
I started writing down things I loved about myself: I love people, I’m a good writer, I can sing a little, I’m not a terrible dancer, I cook amazing food, I’m kind, I’m a loving mother, and I’m surviving.
Seeing all of that pour out onto the page made me realize I wasn’t as far gone as I thought. - Setting Goals for Healing, Habits, and Productivity: I knew my goals had to be specific and actionable so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. I started with yearly goals, reviewing and adjusting them weekly.
I kept the bar low to avoid disappointment—just one task a day was enough to get me started and build momentum.
I went up 1 point every week on my “Loser to winner scale” ( oof! sounds harsh ) but this was a hard reset—no fluff. - Daily Journaling: Every day, I journaled my feelings, thoughts, reflections, and expectations.
I adjusted things as I went along (because it’s okay to change your plans if they’re not the optimal thing to do for your progress). - Creating My Transformation Journal: By month three, I had a solid vision of what my transformation should look like. Using my design skills, I created a transformation planner/journal that guided me throughout the year.
It was one of the best things I’ve done for myself. I have the exact version available in digital form, and you can purchase it here if you’re interested. (I’m also curious—do you prefer a physical or digital version? Let me know in the comments below.)
Get your Unscripted Growth Journal here.
Self-Help Books I Recommend (available on Amazon):
- Man’s Search For Meaning
2. Mindset
3. The Mountain Is You
Self-Help Books I recommend for Christians
Understanding The purpose And power of Women
When Faith dissapoints
Overcoming Fear to Achieve 2025 Goals : Why it is now more possible than ever
Increased Awareness of Habits: By now, you likely have a better understanding of your habits and triggers. This awareness is crucial for making lasting changes
Learning from the Past: By now, you’ve had enough experience with setting and perhaps not sticking to resolutions.
This experience gives you insight into what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to refine your goals.
Mindset Shift: If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of breaking resolutions, 2025 could be the year you adopt a growth mindset.
Viewing setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures can make a huge difference.
Fresh Start: Every year brings new opportunities, but 2025 feels like a significant point as we move further into the decade. It’s a chance to reset with renewed focus and energy.
Accountability and Community: Finding a community or accountability partner to share your journey can provide the support and motivation needed to stick with your resolutions.
More Tools and Resources: With technology continuously evolving, there are more tools available to help you stay on track, whether it’s apps for habit tracking, virtual communities for support, or online resources for learning new skills.
By approaching 2025 with a new perspective and strategy, breaking that streak of unfulfilled resolutions could be within reach!
What are your 2025 new year’s resolutions?
Thank you for your vulnerability, 2024 has been interesting to say the least. I am looking forward to a transformative 2025.thanks for the prompt