I’ve got a post scheduled and ready to go for tomorrow morning, but on this stormy New Year’s morning, I couldn’t resist dropping into your inbox with a little something extra.
Resolutions aren’t really my thing (I’m more of a goal-setter, if anything), but I love the process of thinking of a word or phrase for the year ahead. It’s not intended to be a hard and fast rule, and it doesn’t require a fundamental shift in who I am or how I live my life - no, we don’t do that here. It’s simply a quiet, bubbling undercurrent that carries me through the year and reminds me to always stay authentically, unapologetically myself.
Last year, the phrase I chose was ‘lean in’. I wanted to surrender more, to find ways to let it be instead of sweating the small stuff, to give my anxious brain a well deserved day off. I also wanted to lean in to whatever came my way work-wise and worry less about what the future might look like.
Life ended up having other plans, and I still sweated the small stuff and worried about the future as I probably always will, but the phrase served its purpose, perhaps in a different way than originally intended. It was a constant reminder that it’s OK to be flawed, to make mistakes or worry or feel anxious about stuff, to not always get it right. The real lesson? If we can learn to lean into all the chaos and mess of being human, if we can find it in ourselves to accept that life will never be perfect, all will be well in the end.
So, my word for 2025? Quiet confidence.
As we were having our NYE dinner, James and I got to talking about the resolutions or goals that we would pick for each other. “I would love to see you back yourself more and feel more confident in making a decision without needing anyone’s opinion or approval,” he said.
I was a little stunned, and then I felt seen, and then I wondered how on earth I would ever get to a place where I can confidently make a decision without checking that everyone else thinks it’s a good idea first. Being with someone like James, who is wholly secure in himself and his approach to life, often brings out the worst of my tendencies to seek approval or avoid decision-making.
That’s when the idea of ‘quiet confidence’ came to me. If I can be decisive in my working life, if I can back myself 100% in rooms where I don’t always feel I belong, why can’t I do it in my personal life?
In 2025, I’m going for an air of confidence and self belief and seeing where it takes me. No pressure, no major life changes, just the quiet stillness that comes with knowing that even if I do make a doozy, even if my choices end up being utterly catastrophic, it will all work out in the end.
What a comforting thought.
If you had to choose a word or phrase for the year ahead, what would it be?
Thanks as always for reading, and I’ll see you in your inbox tomorrow!
Lauren x
I used to do this word of the year and totally forgot about it so thank you for reminding me!
The first word that popped into my head when reading this was “Release” and I immediately cringed because I wanted something stronger, more actionable. But I realize now I had this thought because this year has been filled with so much hardship, and going into 2025 I’ve vowed to and talked a lot on my Substack about letting go of some of the things that haven’t been working and learning to replace them.
So maybe it’s good that the first word that came to mind makes be a little nervous? Because maybe it means I’m actually taking myself seriously 😅
Happy New Year, Lauren! Love this (as always)!
A few years ago I started doing the same thing - choosing a word rather than a specific goal. It's such a great way to go about making a soft, small change, and I need to bring that back this year I think. You have inspired me.
This post really resonated with me, as did your choice for 2025 and your rationale. I always need everyone's approval, too! I'm still thinking about my words and intentions for this year - or, if you will, simmering! I'll get there once I've worked it out.