New Year’s Resolutions: Starting Fresh in 2025

The start of a new year often comes with a blend of excitement and anxiety. We see the calendar change and feel a spark of hope, but we’re also met with the weight of expectations. Will I live up to my resolutions? Can I really change?

If you’re feeling nervous about 2025, you’re not alone. Many of us carry past disappointments, struggles, or unrealized goals into the new year, making it feel more like a hurdle than a fresh start. But this year, let’s try something different. Instead of setting ourselves up with rigid resolutions, let’s focus on creating a foundation for growth, joy, and peace.

Setting Ourselves Up for a Good Year

1. Embrace Grace

Start by giving yourself permission to be human. Not every day will be perfect, and that’s okay. Growth happens in the imperfections.

2. Focus on Small Wins

Instead of big, sweeping changes, try setting smaller, actionable goals. For example, commit to one act of forgiveness a week or find one moment each day to reflect on something joyful. Small wins build momentum.

3. Create Spaces for Renewal

Our surroundings deeply affect how we feel. Consider refreshing your space with elements that bring calm and inspiration—perhaps a new piece of art, a soft throw, or even a corner dedicated to quiet reflection.

4. Bring Faith Into the Everyday

Lean into your faith as a guiding light. It’s easy to forget how grounding and uplifting it can be to incorporate prayer, meditation, or scripture into your daily routine. Let this be your foundation when the days feel heavy.

Letting Go and Rediscovering Joy

Forgiveness and letting go are easier said than done. Yet, they are essential for making room for joy. As an interior designer, I’m reminded that sometimes, to transform a space, we first have to clear out what no longer serves us. The same is true in our personal lives.

Maybe you’ve been holding onto resentment, hurt, or even your own high expectations. This year, let’s try to release those burdens. Start small: journal about what you need to let go of or find a physical object to symbolize releasing it.

Rediscovering joy doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your life. Joy can be as simple as a morning cup of coffee in silence, a laugh with a loved one, or a moment of pride in your work. It’s about paying attention and savoring the good.

Loving Your Work Again

If you’ve felt a disconnect from your work, remind yourself why you started. For me, interior design has always been about creating beauty and peace for others—a reflection of my faith and desire to serve.

This year, I’m committed to finding joy in the creative process again, embracing the imperfections, and finding meaning in each project, big or small.

Closing Thoughts

2025 might feel daunting, but it’s also full of possibility. As we step into this new year, let’s focus on progress, not perfection. Let’s forgive, let go, and make space for joy. And most importantly, let’s lean on our faith to guide us through the challenges and celebrate the blessings along the way.

Here’s to a year of transformation and renewal—for our spaces, our hearts, and our lives.