Hello! This is your 2025 check-in. How are you doing? By now, you’re either well on your way to meeting your new year’s goals or, like most folks, you’ve forgotten what those goals even are. No judgment here!

In fact, I started out the year in a rut and feared I was headed to “contented misery” 2.0. I wasn’t about to slip back into that pit, so—graciously—God gave me a word for 2025: different. That word was soon joined by two others, which I’ll get to in just a moment.

Different

You may have seen the recent trend of choosing a word of the year instead of making traditional resolutions. This word becomes a guide of sorts, and influences decisions and actions. Mine is different—because I want to be different, choose differently, and do things differently.

So, as I go about my day or make plans, I ask myself if those plans align with my word. This simplifies things as far as my daily and future choices.

Scared

But let’s be honest: doing things differently can be scary. Our brains crave comfort and routine. Shaking things up—even in a good way—can trigger anxiety.

You might have heard the phrase, do it scared. I don’t know who originally said it, but the meaning behind it is powerful.

I’ll give you a recent example. I’m part of a Christian creatives group, but I’ve never been very active. They occasionally host retreats for 30–40 members, and when this year’s retreat was announced, I had zero plans to go. But during prayer—right when I was venting about being stuck in a rut—I felt prompted to sign up. Honestly, I was a bit anxious when I hit the Register button. This was out of my comfort zone, after all. And that takes us to my final word, “Anyway.”

Anyway

When we do something different and we’re anxious about it, we might try to rationalize or talk ourselves out of it.

• This retreat isn’t wading in the kiddie pool, it’s diving into the deep end.
• Maybe I should re-engage in a smaller way first.
• It’s expensive—can I really afford it right now?
• I’ve been out of the loop and won’t know anyone.

But then came a quiet, gentle whisper: Do it anyway. So I did. And I met the most amazing women and had a truly wonderful time.

So, there you have it: Do it different. Do it scared. And when the excuses start rolling in—do it anyway.

Those are my words for 2025. What about you? What’s motivating or inspiring you right now? I’d love to hear about and learn from your experiences.

Until next time …