2025, here I come! Simple motivators to get myself going in the new year

Happy 2025!

I can't believe that a year has flown past like a flash. 10 months ago, I was eagerly planning for my vacation trip to London and Paris this event has come to pass since. Nothing lasts forever and we need to get used to the idea of impermanence (a Buddhist concept that I lean on whenever I find myself grasping onto things, ideas or people). Strangely, I am overwhelmed by a bittersweet feeling on the last day of each year as I age. I can't quite put a finger to articulate the feeling. It's a mix of sadness, nostalgia, anticipation, fear of the unknown, hope and hopelessness.

Goodbye, bittersweet 2024!

I can't remember when I stopped making New Year's resolutions. Recently, I asked my son to share his resolutions with me, and he bluntly retorted that he doesn't believe in making such resolutions. I don't know if it's because we are becoming increasingly incapable of controlling situations that we slowly lose faith in our ability to accomplish our goals.

2024 was fraught with political, socio-economic, and environmental turmoils, and 2025 won't be spared either. But does this mean that we remain as sitting ducks in the face of impending challenges? Well, maybe we can, but we shouldn't.

There were countless days when I didn't feel like waking up to face another day. It felt safe to just languish on days. The familiarity of not doing anything and staying in my comfort zone forged a false sense of comfort and security. I would justify my melancholy as a defence mechanism against unexpected disappointments that sometimes come with hope and anticipation.

30 minutes before the clock struck midnight to usher in the new year and I'm pondering if I should give the new year another chance to work wonders for me.

Setting intentions for the new year!

As we step into a new year, it’s easy to feel a wave of cynicism wash over us when it comes to setting New Year's resolutions. However, instead of viewing them as daunting tasks or impossible goals, I chose to reframe my mindset and embrace simple motivators that can lead me toward growth and fulfilment.

To start simply, choose 3 intentions that you want to work on.

In 2024, I chose to work on the following:

1. Be responsible

2. Keep on going

3. Be authentic

To remind myself, I wrote these intentions on a piece of paper and have it pasted on my laptop. It worked, to a certain extent as I never lose sight of who I want to grow into when the going gets tough. However, there were times I faltered and at such times, I tried not to beat myself up (too much).

So, in 2025, I've decided to manifest the following:

1. Be authentic (this still stays…)

2. Be courageous

3. Do quality work

While these intentions may sound simple and cliche, trust me, it will not be a walk in the park to master them when the rubber hits the road.

I've ranked authenticity as my top priority as well, it is a core area that will enable me to “be me”. How many of us truly live an authentic life? How many of us can live without fear of judgment? How many of us can live with a liberated voice and how many of us can be true to ourselves?

I'm not trying to solve the world's problems by being courageous. In a way, I need to muster the courage to live more authentically. It's very easy and convenient to stay silent, to stay convinced that nothing is going to work and to believe that I’m not deserving of good things or circumstances. The consequences of being courageous can be overwhelming and they are not for the faint-hearted.

Against the backdrop of technological advancements such as the Generative AI revolution, we are driven by efficiency. Sadly, we sometimes compromise the quality of products, processes and even, relationships when we try to be as efficient as possible. While I embrace the era of Gen AI, I can't help but feel that I'm slowly losing my “crafts”. For example, penmanship used to be a key focus when I was young but now, I can't even write legibly (since I type mostly).

I don't know if my intentions will manifest by the end of 2025, but I will keep at them!

This year, let’s focus on realistic intentions rather than strict resolutions. Celebrate each milestone—no matter how small—and recognize the strength within you to create positive change in your life. Embrace this journey with an open heart and watch as new opportunities unfold before you!