Find Your Focus For the Year – Part 2 of 3

Read the part 1 here

Read the part 3 here

Find Your Focus for the Year 2025: A Guided Lesson with Journal Prompts

In a world that often feels overwhelming and constantly buzzing with opinions, it can be easy to lose sight of what we truly want. We’re influenced by society, family, friends, and even the stories we tell ourselves based on learned beliefs and expectations. But taking the time to uncover what you genuinely desire for the upcoming year can set you on a path that feels aligned, intentional, and fulfilling.

Too often, New Year’s resolutions fall flat because they come from a place of obligation rather than authenticity. Instead of focusing on external outcomes, let’s look at creating an identity goal — a way to align who you want to become, not just what you want to achieve. This means we’re not just working toward something for 2025; we’re setting the stage for a life that feels like home.

Why Choosing a Word for the Year Matters:

I used to think that choosing a word for the year was some millenial/gen Z crap thing along with vision boards that I just didn’t really get – even as a millennial. But the last few years I’ve tried it, and especially this past year it has made ALL the difference.

Last year I chose the word: Patience. 

I don’t hide the fact that I’m a high achiever and I like to push myself. But at the same time, my disabled body and multiple chronic illnesses make it hard to sustain that. 

So this year, instead of pushing forward and driving myself into the ground energy-wise, I choose patience. Allowing things to unfold, releasing some of the pressure, and to just…well…be.

It wasn’t until June that I realized what just ‘being’ really meant (and how awesome it feels). But having the reminder of the word patience on my phone wallpaper made all the difference when I was starting to feel my Inner High Achiever setting expectations for myself that I didn’t have the time, energy or mental whitespace for.

Let’s dive into a step-by-step journey to uncover what’s calling you forward and decide on your word for 2025. With each step, you’ll have journal prompts to reflect and realign, helping you discover what really matters to you.

Step 1: Quieting the Noise to Find Your Focus For the Year

We live in a world full of noise: societal expectations, familial pressures, and our own self-imposed narratives. Before setting any goals, we have to get clear on where these influences might be creeping in and cluttering our intentions.

Journal Prompts for Quieting the Noise:

1. What are some common themes I hear from society, family, or friends about who I should be or what I should want?
2. Where have I followed others’ paths instead of my own in the past? How did that feel?
3. Who am I when no one is looking?
4. What are the beliefs I’ve internalized about success, happiness, or fulfillment? Do they still serve me?

Reflecting on these questions allows you to identify patterns and recognize where outside voices might be guiding your decisions. It’s only by quieting this noise that you can start to hear your own voice.

Step 2: Tuning into What Truly Matters

Once you’ve stripped away the noise, it’s time to ask yourself what you want from the heart. This is where we start setting the foundations for your identity goal. Rather than aiming for surface-level achievements, we’re looking for what fulfills you on a deeper level. This will help you establish a guiding word for the year—something that serves as a compass as you navigate each new day in 2025.

Journal Prompts for Tuning into What Matters:

1. What experiences, moments, or feelings do I want to cultivate more of in 2025?
2. What are the things that bring me a sense of peace, joy, or purpose?
3. When I imagine a fulfilling life, what do I see myself doing? Who am I with? What am I doing?
4. If I had to choose one word to describe how I want to feel in 2025, what would it be?

Allow yourself to go deeper here. Don’t worry about how “big” or “small” your aspirations seem. Just tune into what feels right for you.

Step 3: Defining Your Identity Goal

An identity goal is about becoming, rather than just achieving. It shifts the focus from “what do I want to get?” to “who do I want to become?” Think of this as your true north for 2025—a guiding vision of who you’re stepping into as the year unfolds.

Journal Prompts for Defining Your Identity Goal:

1. What kind of person do I want to be by the end of 2025?
2. What are the qualities, traits, or values that feel essential to embody in the upcoming year?
3. What habits or actions will support this version of myself?
4. Who inspires me? What about their qualities or behaviors can I learn from or adopt?

After reflecting, start to notice a theme. This theme becomes the heart of your identity goal. For instance, if your answers revolve around connection, your goal may be to become someone who nurtures and deepens their relationships.

Step 4: Choosing Your Word for 2025 to Find Your Focus For the Year

With a clearer vision of your identity goal, it’s time to choose a word that captures this essence. Your word becomes a guiding principle that you can come back to in moments of doubt, decision-making, and reflection throughout the year. It’s a simple yet profound reminder of the person you’re working toward becoming.

Journal Prompts for Choosing Your Word:

1. What is one word that captures the essence of my identity goal?
2. How does this word make me feel? Does it inspire me?
3. When I imagine myself embodying this word, what does my life look like?
4. How can I anchor this word into my daily routines or surroundings to keep it front of mind?

Choosing your word is a highly personal and intuitive process. There’s no right or wrong answer here—just go with what resonates and feels aligned with your heart.

Step 5: Mapping Out Your Course Corrections

The last step is all about taking small, intentional steps that bring you closer to your identity goal. These aren’t big overhauls but gentle course corrections that allow you to move toward your vision with ease and sustainability.

Journal Prompts for Mapping Out Course Corrections:

1. What small daily or weekly actions can I take that reflect my identity goal?
2. How can I adjust my environment, routines, or habits to support my word for the year?
3. What might I need to let go of, shift, or reprioritize to honor my word?
4. How can I celebrate my progress and acknowledge these changes, no matter how small?

These prompts guide you to set a plan that aligns with the person you want to become rather than adding extra tasks to your to-do list. The beauty of course corrections is that they’re flexible and adaptable—they allow you to move with intention, not pressure.

Find Your Focus For the Year: Embracing Your Word for 2025

As you step into 2025, let this process be a reminder that you’re capable of shaping your life in a way that feels true and fulfilling. Your word, your identity goal, and your course corrections will serve as a gentle framework to guide you through the year ahead.

Take time to check in with yourself, make adjustments, and remember that it’s okay to grow at your own pace. You’re not here to live up to anyone else’s expectations. You’re here to become more of who you truly are and to find focus for the year.