Like most people, I use the end of each year as a chance to create goals for the upcoming year. For 2025 I’m taking inspiration from a great friend who I admire (Sam Tooley), I’m creating a personal contract between me and me for the upcoming year. The items in this contract are less about outcomes and more about the process – I’m sharing this in the hopes that it sparks some ideas for how you can better show up in the new year!
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* Emphasize commitment and discipline; doing what you said you would do even when it’s inconvenient, unpopular and uncomfortable. Recognizing that our word is our rudder in this world and our actions, the motor. I want to cut through the choppy waters toward where I WANT TO GO despite the currents emanating from those around me who don’t want the same things.
* Bring the energy; be encouraging, empowering and inspiring in all that you do (not even with words, but with action and attention). Be there for others and make more of an effort to give undivided attention to those that you have the privilege of interacting with. Make other people feel seen, heard, valued and loved.
* Set and maintain boundaries to protect your peace; understand that priorities need to be guarded because if not, people will invade (even if not malicious). Understand that you need to be selectively selfish in order to be sustainably selfless. You don’t owe anybody anything but you choose to be of service – don’t let people take advantage of the kindness you offer.
* Respond, don’t react; be purposeful and deliberate with how you show up. The world can make everything feel urgent when the truth is that very few things are. Don’t confuse important with urgent, instead, embrace the attitudes of being both unrushed and unbothered.
* Do the things that you know make you better; even when it costs you time. Being consistent means being adaptable, not rigid. Remember that the strongest things in this world bend at times to avoid breaking. Don’t forget that what you want is on the other side of hard, so go be about it and lead with action.
* Operate with, with or without you energy. Do the things that you feel called to regardless of whether or not other people decide to come along for the ride. See external validation as a nice to have but not a need to have because the truth is that you don’t need permission or approval to live how you want to live. Be careful not to let this concept make you cold to those around you (don’t take things personally).
* Don’t sit on the fence; doing a little bit of the wrong thing is still the wrong thing.
* Be selective with what you say “yes” to; do less but do it better. Don’t forget that attention is the most valuable resource in this world and divided focus means diluted power. Go deeper, not wider.
* Create good art in private and recognize that art not shared is still art. In other words, recognize that not everything needs to be shared with the world and that we are all creating art with how we live each moment. Strive to be in awe of the small things and recognize that these are really the big things.
* Put God first and start each day with an honest effort to worship our creator over His creation.
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These are the intentions that I’m taking with me into 2025 and I’d encourage you create a contract if this is something that feels interesting to explore. I hope that the coming year is full of growth and if there’s any way that I can be helpful on the path ahead, I’m always just a message away (here).
“All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Do hard things.
Joe Rinaldi
IG: @joearinaldi
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