This New Year feels like a set of crisp, clean, fresh sheets, and I’m ready to dive in.
Bring on the fun moments, the humbling ones, and all the in-between. It’s quiet, a bit grey outside, very peaceful. I feel calm, grounded and focused - knowing what to do and doing it.
My New Year’s Resolution: get comfortable with discomfort. See suck. Embrace suck. Seek suck.
I am sure the world will give me plenty opportunities to practice! Bring it on.
Here’s What I’ve Learned - And I am Far from Done.
If you’re reading this, you’re alive. (And if you’re a bot, I hope you’re a helpful one.) Being alive feels like a given most of the time, but it’s not—it’s a privilege. And yet, for all of us breathing and scrolling through this wild world, there’s a question that keeps bubbling up: Are we just alive, or are we fully alive?
It’s 2025. Opportunities are everywhere, but so are distractions. There’s more noise than signal, more anxiety than clarity, and more potential than follow-through.
It’s an “interesting” time to be human—a time that rewards those who know how to lead themselves, adapt, and stay grounded amidst the chaos.
Here’s my resolution for the year: pitch my tent, and to make “Back to Senses” my basecamp. To come to my senses—both figuratively and literally. When I started my adventure, it was very Forrest Gump like - you know, when he just started running and more and more people started running with him - each with their own reasons for doing it.
Feels Like Magic
When I am focused and grounded, I feel like Neo seeing through the Matrix. I’m in control of my actions, my thoughts, my emotions—not the other way around.
The noise quiets. The overwhelm dissolves. I can see clearly, act decisively, and move through the chaos with purpose. It’s not a mythical state—it’s something anyone can cultivate. But it takes effort, practice, and a refusal to let the world run you.
This Jedi-like state doesn’t come from perfection or superhuman discipline.
It comes from learning how to master the basics: your attention, your mindset, and your actions.
That’s what this year is about—not waiting for the world to slow down, but learning how to show up fully despite the storm.
Living in "Interesting" Times
These are tricky times, but they’re also full of possibility—for those who are ready. The world isn’t waiting for anyone to “catch up” or “feel ready.”
It rewards people who can think big but stay grounded. Those who can ask better questions, act decisively, and adapt when the terrain shifts.
And here’s the thing: thriving in this world doesn’t require you to be superhuman. You don’t need to be fearless or flawless. What you do need is a handful of critical skills—and the willingness to get your hands dirty trying them out.
Most of us know what to do already: we just struggle to show up and act on it.
25 for 25
For ambitious overthinkers—those who want to tap into their potential—it’s easy to feel stuck in cycles of overanalysis, procrastination, and self-doubt.
So here’s a roadmap for 2025, rooted in clarity, action, and a little awe for the road ahead.
Think much bigger. Stop aiming for "realistic." Dream adventurously. It’s scary, it’s exciting. Big thinking pushes you to question assumptions, reimagine the possible, and step into work that truly matters.
Think much smaller. That said - before you master your life, master your minutes. The next five. or two. The ones that follow. Small, intentional actions shape your days. They become your life.
Learn to be in charge of your mood. Shift your state, don’t wait for it. Motivation follows action. Practice calming your nervous system, sparking energy, and meeting discomfort head-on. It’s a skill.
Expand your time horizon. Stop chasing quick wins. Think in years. Most people don’t fail - they just quit things before they succeed. Things take time.
Learn to ask better questions. “What really matters here?” “What’s the smallest next step?” “What’s the boldest thing I could try?” Better questions open new doors.
Get uncomfortable. Stay there. Change is embodied. You don’t think your way to transformation—you feel it. Stop waiting to “fix” yourself before starting. Start now. Grow through the doing.
See the big and small together. The big dream sets your direction. The small step keeps you moving. Do both. Hold the vision while you master the details.
Set process goals, not just outcome goals. You can’t control the result, but you can control the work. Focus on showing up, day after day. The process creates the outcome.
Slow down to think better. Faster isn’t always smarter. Slowing down gives you the clarity to see what matters and the courage to act on it.
Develop a sustainable info diet. The world is noisy. You don’t need to know everything. Curate for depth, not breadth. Choose quality over overwhelm.
Find something bigger than yourself. Care for it. Commit to it. It could be a person, a cause, a craft. Whatever it is, let it pull you beyond your small fears and into a bigger life.
Don’t be a doomer. This is important. Cynicism is lazy. Optimism takes effort. Look for the good, the beauty, the awe. It’s there. Find it. Build from it. Optimism, curiosity, and awe are survival tools. They help us see opportunities where others see obstacles, build instead of destroy. The world needs more constructive builders and fewer cynical spectators.
Get to know yourself. The real you—not the curated version. This requires honesty, humility, and courage. It’s uncomfortable but worth it. (Also good for your skin, hair, and nails.)
Learn to think ecologically. Everything is connected. Your actions ripple outward. See the systems. Pay attention to second-order effects.
Master storytelling. Your life is a story. The work you do, the way you show up, the connections you build—this is how you make meaning. Tell stories that lift, connect, and inspire.
Practice future literacy. The future isn’t a fixed point—it’s a set of possibilities. Get curious about what’s coming. Notice patterns. Prepare without fear.
Find your awe. Stop. Look around. The world is astonishing. Let that astonishment anchor you. Wonder fuels resilience.
Reinvent yourself often. Who you were isn’t who you have to be. Let go of old identities. Stay curious. Keep evolving.
You’re creating the world. What you think, imagine, and pay attention to changes your personal world—and the world around you. Make it count.
The Both-And World
A lot of this will seem contradictory:
“Toughen up and soften up.”
“Dream big and start small.”
But the truth is, life isn’t either-or—it’s both-and. You need to zoom out to see the big picture and zoom in to master the details.
Get In The Game
This year, I’ll stretch my comfort zone, poke around, experiment, and optimize for serendipity. That much is within my control. I’ll pitch my tent here and get to work. I hope you’ll do the same.
There’s a lot ahead of us—big changes, humbling moments, and surprises we can’t yet see.
But I believe we’ll be okay.
Here’s to 2025: a year for staying sharp, showing up, and stepping into the arena like a Jedi. This year—and every year after—is built one decision, one action, one moment at a time. Think bigger. Act smaller. Live braver. And don’t forget to notice the beauty while you’re at it. I hope it’ll be grounded in Awe and Action.
Life is good. We have a Pristine New Year. Make it count.
