Goals For Growth: Explore What is Possible in 2025
The holiday season is here, and I hope you’re savoring every moment! The power of connection during the holidays felt palpable this year as my family gathered in California to celebrate with my amazing 95-year-old mom, Joan. Sitting around the table, sharing stories, and soaking in the warmth of connection reminded me of how vital family and community are to our well-being.
As December rushes by and looking ahead to 2025 and the exciting possibilities ahead. This time of year always feels like a bridge between where we’ve been and where we’re going. For me, it’s a moment to pause, reset, and dream.
I’m particularly energized about growing VITAL in the coming year. With Alaska and Rim to Rim hikes on the horizon and plans to expand our local community hikes, I can’t wait to see what we create together. My wish is to continue building a supportive, adventurous community that inspires us to stay active, embrace the outdoors, and grow—both inside and out.
How can we come together to be healthier, stronger, and happier? I’d love to hear your thoughts as we step into this next chapter.
Goals, Resolutions, and Intentions: What Works for You?
With New Year’s Eve just weeks away, I’ve been reflecting on the age-old tradition of setting resolutions. Do you love the ritual of goal-setting, or do you prefer a more spontaneous approach to growth? Over the years, I’ve learned that resolutions can be tricky. Sometimes they feel inspiring and energizing, while other times they feel like an overwhelming to-do list that sets us up for disappointment.
This year, I’m taking a different approach—one that prioritizes mindset, process, and community over perfection.
Polling the family while hiking Hulda Crooks Trail, Loma Linda, CA
On a recent walk with my sister, Pam, and my daughter, Hanna, I asked their thoughts on resolutions. Pam prefers setting declarations—statements of being or behavior that she integrates into her life. She sees goals as things you check off, while declarations are ongoing shifts. Hanna, on the other hand, dislikes the pressure of resolutions, feeling like she often sets the bar too high and ends up discouraged. In recent years, she’s focused on removing negative or distracting habits to give herself some grace. I’ve been there too—setting too many goals and ending up feeling disappointed, which only led to self-criticism.
Studies show that most people abandon their resolutions after just 3.7 months. So, what’s going wrong? In my case, I historically set too many and unrealistic goals. Other things that sabotage resolutions include:
Lack of Accountability: Without someone to hold them accountable, people can easily slide back into old habits.
Loss of Motivation: Initial excitement can fade, and people may lose sight of why they set the resolution in the first place.
No Plan: Resolutions often lack a clear action plan. Without specific steps, it can be difficult to track progress or stay on course.
External Obstacles: Life can get in the way, whether it’s stress, time constraints, or unexpected challenges.
Negative Self-Talk: When progress is slow or setbacks occur, people may become discouraged and believe they aren’t capable of achieving their goals.
By setting realistic, manageable goals and creating an actionable plan with accountability, the chances of sticking to resolutions can increase. Pam and Hanna’s perspectives reminded me of a quote that’s stuck with me from James Clear’s Atomic Habits.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become ”
This simple idea has shaped how I approach my goals. Instead of creating overwhelming lists of resolutions, I focus on small, daily actions that align with my values and the person I want to be.
What Works? Strategies for Growth and Change
Over the past few years, I’ve been inspired by two different approaches to goal-setting and growth: James Clear’s practical framework for building habits and Jesse Itzlers philosophy of pushing limits to fully experience life.
James Clear’s Approach: Building Habits That Last
In Atomic Habits, Clear emphasizes that small, consistent actions lead to meaningful change. Here are a few strategies I’ve adopted:
Focus on Systems, Not Goals: Instead of aiming for an outcome, focus on the process. For example, rather than proclaiming, “I want to run a marathon,” I commit to a program of running four times a week and strength training two days a week. Small (for me), consistent steps—improving just 1% each day—lead to big progress over time.
Habit Stacking: Attach a new habit to an existing one. For instance, after my morning coffee, I spend ten minutes meditating. This makes it easier to integrate new behaviors into daily routines.
Set Identity-Based Goals: Align your goals with the kind of person you want to be. Instead of saying, “I want to lose 10 pounds,” I think, “I am someone who prioritizes health, nutrition and fitness.” This subtle shift makes lasting change feel more natural and empowering.
Jesse Itzler’s Philosophy: Stretch Yourself to Fully Experience Life
Jesse Itzler’s perspective reminds me to continually push my boundaries and embrace challenges as a way to live more fully. His approach includes:
Mini Adventures: Plan a small adventure every eight weeks to create six exciting new experiences each year.
Winning Habits: Adopt one new habit each quarter for steady, sustainable growth.
Misogi Challenges: Choose a big, audacious challenge that pushes your limits—something transformative like a physical feat or a major personal milestone.
These ideas inspire me to think bigger and stay intentional about growth. This year, my misogi was launching VITAL—a dream that challenged me to take risks, learn, and grow. Last year, it was completing two marathons in one year to see how my mind and body responded to the challenge.
Each experience reminded me that growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones.
Your Journey Starts Here
As we look ahead to 2025, I invite you to ask yourself:
Who do I want to be?
What do I want for myself in a year?
How do I want to be living, feeling, and growing?
Whether it’s embracing daily habits, planning mini-adventures, or taking on a misogi of your own, I’d love to support you on your journey. At VITAL, we’re building a community where we can explore these questions together—through movement, nature, and shared experiences.
Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, connection, and transformation. What could it hold for you? Let’s find out together.
What’s Your Next Step?
If you’re ready to challenge yourself, sign up for a VITAL Event to build habits, set goals, build community, and embark on a new adventure!
VITAL 100: A 100-day challenge in your own backyard featuring 100 miles and a focus on feeling 100%. No flights required, just lots of movement! Link
Alaska Kenai Tri-Adventure: A bucket-list fitness adventure combining hiking, kayaking, and exploring the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness.
Rim to Rim: A transformative 24-mile hike across the Grand Canyon, from the South Rim to the North Rim—physically demanding and utterly life-changing. Applications open January 8, 2025.
Functional Health Bootcamp: Build the strength and confidence you need to tackle your next big adventure. Eight weeks to a stronger you!
What does 2025 hold for you? Join us and let’s explore what’s possible — together.