Fresh Starts: Launching 2025 Strong, Focused, & Hopeful

In the Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes to Jail, there is a scene where a fellow inmate is complaining to Madea about how she was a victim of her past. Madea, a larger-than-life and straight-talking older woman (played by Perry), responded by telling this person to stop acting like a victim and take responsibility for herself. Easier said than done. A fresh start begins with taking responsibility for our goals and plans in front of us rather than allowing our failures or even successes of the past year to hold us captive.

Perhaps 2024 was one of the best years in your career, personal life, or relationships. Or maybe, it was one of your worst years full of failures, shortcomings, or bone-crushing events that produced the kind of pain you aren’t sure you can survive. Maybe it was an ok year, not amazing but not horrible. Regardless of which of these descriptions best describes you, we all do well with fresh starts. Here are a few suggestions to start your year strong, focused, and hopeful.

1. Extend grace to yourself and to others.

Whether the past year was one of epic failures or one where you were really hurt by others, a fresh start begins with showing kindness and forgiveness to yourself and to others. Look, we are all notorious for making mistakes and some of those can be large and painful. But there is something powerful in the image talked about in the Bible regarding putting the past behind you and pressing on toward the future.

2. Begin each day in gratitude.

It is amazing how gratitude can transform us. It takes our eyes off of what we are lacking and places them on the good we have in our lives. And it is free. It requires no subscription, no therapy, no medication, and no one’s approval. When we fail to focus on what we are grateful for, we will usually fixate on what we do not have or what we are dissatisfied with – our team, our spouse, our boss, our compensation, etc. And that is a hard way to have a fresh start.

3. Think about the year with hopefulness.

In contrast to gratitude which focuses on what we have, hopeful thinking sets its sights on the potential that lies ahead. Those who have lost a job must work to remind themselves that another job, perhaps better than they could imagine, will emerge. Others who have lost someone special can remember that even though that person cannot be replaced, other people can become special to you and add great value to your life. Those who have even a glimmer of hope are more likely to truly experience a fresh start.

4. Set at least one transformational goal.

By a transformational goal, I do not mean life-altering. For most people, a transformational goal begins with something that will motivate you, challenge you, and inspire you in the new year. And even though the goal may not be “mega” in its nature, it can sometimes result in outcomes far larger and greater than the goal itself. Fresh starts in areas like our career, motivations, finances, and physical and emotional health most commonly begin with a smaller yet definitive decision to grow and change.

5. Focus on your strengths.

I am almost 65 years old (but because of my Diet Coke and peanut M&M’s, I feel like a 50-year-old!), and I still find it a bit disconcerting how my mind can drift toward my weaknesses and shortcomings far faster than my strengths. This is true of many leaders I have met over the past 35 years. Leaders do need to be aware of their limits and acknowledge their mistakes. But when we focus more on our limits rather than our talents and strengths, the results will be anything but a fresh start.

6. Refine your relationships.

Sometimes a fresh start necessitates some fresh relationships. It’s not that your friends are a problem (although in some cases they very well may be). Rather, there are times when a relational transfusion provides you with the support, guidance, and positive outlet that you need in this season of your life. Do you have two or three people you deeply trust and enjoy spending time with? People who enrich your life, prioritize maintaining the relationship, and practice reciprocity by initiating connections as much as you do? Such connections can add great value in hitting the ground running towards a fresh start.

7. Take action and take risks.

Every fresh start begins with stepping towards something new or different. And quite often, such steps involve risk, including pruning unproductive, low-benefit behaviors or relationships. For example, making a change in your career or position. Stopping a behavior and replacing it with a better one. Pursuing a more proactive approach to your health. Reducing your debt or increasing your savings. Or stepping up and volunteering for a nonprofit. 24 years ago, when we started The Center Consulting Group, I had to make a difficult decision – leave another professional role I loved that was safe and enjoyable or stay in that role and not launch The Center Consulting Group. I decided to make the change. It felt risky, but now, I cannot imagine not doing it.

Contact us to learn more about how our experienced coaches can help keep you on track to reach your goals in 2025.

Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.