January 9, 2025 • 21 mins
What if you could throw away the burden of New Year's resolutions and instead embrace a mindset brimming with exciting possibilities?
Join me as I share a personal journey of transforming the post-holiday pressure into an opportunity for joy and curiosity. This episode of Real Food Stories is all about breaking free from the constraints of societal "shoulds" and redefining our goals into aspirations that truly resonate with us. I’ll share how small, intentional changes can lead to a more fulfilling life. It's time to move beyond guilt-driven resolutions and focus on what genuinely lights us up for a more aligned and joyful year.
As we look forward to designing a year that excites and inspires us for 2025, we'll explore practical ways to turn possibilities into reality. From incorporating accountability measures to reshaping those pesky "shoulds" into desires, this episode is packed with insights on making meaningful changes.
I even offer a free 30-minute discovery call to help kickstart your journey, because this year is all about turning dreams into achievements. Embrace this opportunity and let's create a future where 2025 becomes your best year yet!
Click HERE to set up a FREE 30-minute discovery call with me!
I would love to hear from you! What did you think of the episode? Share it with me :)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone and welcome back to the Real Food
Stories podcast.
How are you?
Did you make it through thatcrazy month of holiday fever,
boy?
It was a doozy, not going tolie.
Was it because Thanksgiving wasso close to all the holidays?
This year they just seemed toflow right into each other, and
having Hanukkah overlap withChristmas, it was a lot of fun
(00:24):
and exhausting all at the sametime.
In any event, happy, happy newyear to you.
This is a hard week, not goingto lie.
Getting back on track after amonth of celebrations.
I hope that you can take a deepbreath and just ease into the
week and give yourself a break.
No need to get crazy with bigchanges and resolutions just yet
(00:47):
.
So today, in the spirit ofeasing in, we're flipping the
script on the typical New Year'stalk, and I've been giving this
a lot of thought because, as anutrition coach and someone who
is literally in the business ofhelping people succeed at their
health and fitness goals, thistime of year is on my mind a lot
(01:08):
, because I know that it is onyour mind too.
This year, though, we arefocusing on something different
the possibilities, what lightsyou up, what feels exciting and
what makes your life feel morejoyful, exciting, and what makes
your life feel more joyful.
(01:28):
So, instead of rigidresolutions, I want to explore
how we can design a year weactually want to live, one that
feels inspiring, aligned andachievable.
All right, let's talk aboutresolutions for a second.
You know the drill.
January rolls around andsuddenly everyone feels the
pressure to fix themselves Loseweight, go to the gym every day,
quit sugar, save more money,wake up at 5 am.
(01:51):
It's like we all collectivelydecided we weren't good enough
just the way we are.
But here's the truth.
Resolutions are broken bydesign.
They're often vague, they'reoverly ambitious or tied to
things we don't even really careabout, just things we think
we're supposed to care about.
And here's a fun fact for youabout 90% of resolutions fail by
(02:17):
February.
Why is that?
Because resolutions are likeputting a Band-Aid on a much
bigger mindset issue.
They're reactive, notintentional.
Let me give you an example.
How many times have you set aresolution like I'm going to eat
healthier this year?
Sounds good, right, but whatdoes that actually mean?
(02:39):
Are you cutting out fast food?
Are you cooking at home everynight?
Are you eating out fast food?
Are you cooking at home everynight?
Are you eating more vegetables.
It's so vague that there's noreal plan.
And when there's no plan,there's no follow through.
Then, by February, life happens.
You get busy, you get stressedor just plain tired.
(03:00):
It's February, it's dark andsuddenly that eat healthier
resolution feels like a distantmemory.
But it's not just the lack ofclarity that trips us up.
Resolutions also fail becausethey're often rooted in guilt or
shame.
They're born out of a place ofnot enoughness.
(03:21):
I need to be skinnier, I needto be healthier, more productive
.
I mean and don't get me startedabout the pressure that women
in midlife feel at this timeabout aging and making sure that
we look a certain way.
But when we start from thatplace, we're already setting
ourselves up to fail.
(03:41):
Think about it.
How motivated do you feel whenyou're focused on all the ways?
You're falling short.
Here's where I want to flip thescript.
Instead of resolutions, I liketo think about the new year as
an opportunity to explorepossibilities.
Doesn't that sound so much moreinviting than the word
(04:04):
resolution?
Resolutions are about fixingwhat's wrong.
Possibilities are about leaninginto what's right, what excites
you, what brings you joy, whatfeels meaningful to you.
I've seen this shift in my ownlife and with my clients.
When we focus on possibilities,we're not forcing ourselves
(04:26):
into a rigid box.
We're creating space to growand experiment in ways that
actually fit our lives.
For example, instead of sayingI need to go to the gym every
day, what if you asked yourselfwhat's a movement practice that
I could actually love, that Ienjoy, that I feel curious about
?
Or instead of I need to eatless sugar, what about exploring
(04:51):
how to cook meals that nourishyou and make you feel good?
Resolutions are about pressure.
Possibilities are aboutcuriosity, and curiosity.
That's where real change begins.
So I hope that you can see thatresolutions are probably not
going to work in your future.
(05:12):
Let's count those out.
So what is in?
Let me introduce you to what Ilike to call the possibilities
mindset.
This isn't about checking boxesor achieving perfection.
It's just about getting curious.
It's about asking yourself whatwould make this year feel
exciting.
What's something I've alwayswanted to explore?
(05:34):
The possibilities mindset isn'trigid.
It's open-ended and playful.
Instead of focusing on what youthink you should do, it's about
discovering what lights you upand makes you feel like your
best self.
It's about discovering whatlights you up and makes you feel
like your best self.
And let me tell you when youframe your year this way, it's a
total game changer.
Here's how it works.
(05:57):
Start by thinking about yourlife as it is right now.
What's calling for yourattention?
It might be something big, likeimproving your health, or
something smaller, like findingthe time to relax or reconnect
with hobbies that you love.
The key here is curiosity.
Lean into what excites you orfeels meaningful, not what
(06:20):
society is telling you toprioritize.
For me, I've realized that Ihave been craving more quiet.
For me, I've realized that Ihave been craving more quiet.
Life feels so noisy sometimesBetween social media, excessive
emails and all the busyness.
I've been longing for a reset.
That's why one of my 2025possibilities is limiting my
(06:45):
time on social media.
I've set specific app timersand even decided that mornings
and evenings are for real life,not scrolling.
It's a small shift, but itfeels so freeing.
Already you know what thatfeels like to get on Instagram
and suddenly 45 minutes has goneby and you don't even know what
(07:05):
you have accomplished.
That's how I've been feeling,so I am going to make a very
intentional shift away fromsocial media this year.
Another possibility I'm steppinginto this year is rediscovering
my love of books and reading.
I used to read all the time.
This was my number one hobbyand somewhere along the way I
(07:28):
let that habit slip.
Hello social media andInstagram.
So this year I just joined abook club and now I have to read
because I want to show upprepared.
It's like I created built-inaccountability for something I
actually enjoy.
And so far we've had our firstbook club meeting and it's a
(07:50):
great way to just stay on taskwith books and I'm having a
great time.
And then there's my body.
This year I am focusing onfeeling strong and capable.
I've joined a gym and startedworking with a personal trainer,
not because I feel like I haveto, but because I want to
(08:10):
challenge myself in a way thatfeels exciting.
The possibilities mindset shiftsthe focus from external
expectations to internal desires.
It's not about what the worldsays you should do.
It's about what feels right toyou.
Maybe your possibility isfinally starting that creative
(08:33):
project you've been dreamingabout, or maybe it's something
as simple as committing to onewalk a day to clear your mind.
The beauty of possibilities isthat there's no pressure to get
it right.
You're just experimenting.
You're exploring and openingyourself up to growth.
And guess what.
That's where real, lastingchange happens, not from a place
(08:55):
of guilt, but from a place ofcuriosity and joy.
So what possibilities arecalling to you this year?
What feels exciting, meaningfulor even a little bit scary, but
in a good way, give that somethought.
I would love to hear from you.
If you ever want to just reachout to me and send me an email.
(09:16):
I would really love to knowwhat your possibilities are for
this year.
All right, so you're feelinginspired by the possibilities
mindset, but how do you takethat inspiration and turn it
into something tangible?
This is where designing youryear comes in.
It's not about creating a rigiddo or die plan.
It's about setting up your yearin a way that feels purposeful
(09:39):
and doable.
Here's how I approach it.
First step start with curiosity, ask yourself and take some
time to do this.
Get a notebook, give yourself afew minutes just to be alone in
some quiet and ask yourselfwhat would make this year feel
amazing for me.
(09:59):
Notice I didn't say perfect orproductive.
This is about what excites you.
Maybe it's reconnecting withthose old hobbies, exploring a
new fitness routine or evencreating more time just to be
Okay.
Step two let's get specific andpractical.
(10:23):
The next step is to get clear onwhat you're actually going to
do.
Vague goals like eat healthieror exercise more are a recipe
for frustration, trust me.
I have been there, I know this.
Instead, think about actionsyou can measure and build into
your routine.
Take my goal of moving my bodymore this year.
(10:44):
I didn't just say I want towork out.
Instead, I joined a gym andbooked sessions with a personal
trainer.
I also blocked time on mycalendar for workouts, just like
I would for any otherappointment.
Having that structure makes itso much easier to stay
consistent and, honestly, itfeels exciting to see progress,
(11:05):
even in small ways.
I have been feeling great aboutmyself just showing up to the
gym.
I've been an at-home gym personfor years, probably since COVID
, and just showing up at the gymfeels really good, something I
can sort of check off my list.
The next step you want to do isto build in accountability.
(11:25):
Accountability is like thesecret sauce of goal setting.
Without it, it's easy to letthings slide.
That's why I've set app timerson my phone to help me limit my
social media.
I even told a friend about myplan so they can check in on me.
It's not about pressure.
It's about creating gentlereminders to keep me on track.
(11:46):
For you, accountability mightmean sharing your goals with a
friend, or joining the gym witha friend, or even just writing
them down somewhere that you'llsee them every single day the
refrigerator.
Tacking things up on therefrigerator is never a bad idea
.
You have to open that thingevery single day.
And the final step start smalland adjust as you go.
(12:10):
Don't overwhelm yourself bytrying to tackle everything at
once.
Big changes come from small,consistent, tiny steps.
If you want to move more, startwith a short daily walk.
If you're trying to cook more,start with one new recipe a week
.
The point is to build momentum,not burnout.
(12:34):
Don't get yourself overwhelmed.
And here's the best part youdon't have to have it all
figured out right now.
Just take the first step.
Designing your year is a process.
As life changes, yourpriorities might shift, and
that's totally fine.
The key is to stay curious andkeep moving towards the things
(12:55):
that matter most to you.
So what's one small, specificstep you can take this week to
start designing your year?
Maybe it's signing up for thatclass you've been eyeing, or
scheduling time to brainstormyour own possibilities.
Whatever it is, start where youare and let the rest unfold.
(13:16):
All right, let's talk about theshoulds.
You know the ones.
I should lose weight, I shouldones.
I should lose weight, I shouldexercise, I should eat better.
These are the phrases we've allsaid to ourselves at some point
, usually with a side of guiltand a sprinkle of self-judgment.
But here's the thing theshoulds are sneaky little joy
(13:39):
stealers.
They're rooted in externalpressures, what society, social
media or even your own innercritic says we should do to be
better.
And when we approach our yearfrom that place, it's not
empowering, it's exhausting.
So let's take fitness, forexample.
For years I used to think Ishould go to the gym more, but
(14:04):
every time I framed it that way,it felt like a chore.
I'd start strong for a week ortwo, then miss a session, I'd
feel guilty and spiral into thewhy bother mindset.
Does it sound familiar?
What changed for me wasshifting the narrative from
should to want.
Instead of I should go to thegym, I started asking what kind
(14:26):
of movement would make me feelstrong and energized.
That's when I realized I didn'twant to punish myself with
workouts.
I wanted to build strength andfeel good in my body.
And this year, like I've said,I've joined the gym again and I
am working with a personaltrainer, not because I should,
but because I want to.
(14:47):
The same goes for food.
The shoulds say things like Ishouldn't eat that dessert or I
should cut out carbs, but whathappens?
You either feel deprived, youmight end up binging later or
end up in that endless cycle ofguilt.
Instead of following thoserules, I like to think about how
food can nourish me physically,emotionally and even socially.
(15:11):
Here's what I want you toremember.
The shoulds are usually loud,demanding and rigid.
Possibilities, on the otherhand, are quiet.
They're open, they're kind.
They don't demand perfection.
They invite you to explore.
Let's reframe the shouldstogether.
Instead of saying I should eathealthier, let's try.
(15:36):
I want to explore meals thatmake me feel energized and
satisfied.
Instead of saying I should lose, weight becomes I want to feel
strong, confident and capable inmy body, and another I should
be more productive turns into Iwant to create space for things
(15:56):
that truly matter to me.
When we let go of the shoulds,we create room for goals and
habits that feel authentic,exciting and sustainable.
And here's the kicker You'remore likely to stick with them
because they come from a placeof desire instead of obligation.
So what's one should you canlet go of this year?
(16:18):
What's one possibility you canreplace it with?
Maybe you'll realize you don'tneed to overhaul your whole life
.
You just need to realign withwhat makes you feel alive and
good.
All right, now it's your turn.
We've talked about leavingresolutions behind, embracing a
(16:39):
possibilities mindset, designingyour year and letting go of the
shoulds.
So here's the big question whatpossibilities are calling to
you this year?
Take a moment to think about it.
What would make 2025 feelmeaningful, exciting or just
plain fun?
It doesn't have to be a huge,life-changing goal.
(16:59):
Sometimes the most impactfulchanges come from the simplest
shifts like saying yes to a newhobby, carving out time to rest
or even just being more presentwith the people you love.
Here's a little exercise to getyou started.
Imagine it's December of 2025, awhole year from now.
(17:21):
You're sitting down to reflecton the year.
What are you proud of?
What brought you the most joy?
What's something you said yesto that made your life better?
Once you have an idea, write itdown and then ask yourself
what's the first step I can taketo move towards that
(17:43):
possibility.
It could be just signing up forthat class, scheduling time in
your calendar or even tellingsomeone about your plan to hold
yourself accountable For me.
Going back to my possibilitiesfor this year and reading more
books I joined a book club.
I said yes to the book club.
(18:04):
I didn't really know who was init, I don't know the books, but
I just simply said yes.
The other possibility isbuilding strength and confidence
in my body.
My first step I scheduled asession with a personal trainer.
These are small actions, butthey're setting the foundation
for a year that I'm excited tolive and remember.
(18:26):
You don't have to map out theentire year right now.
Start small, start where youare and let your journey unfold
from there.
Thank you for joining me on thisjourney toward embracing
possibilities in 2025.
Your time and attention meanthe world to me and I'm grateful
to have you as part of thiscommunity.
(18:47):
To recap today we explored howto shift from rigid resolutions
to a mindset brimming withpossibilities.
We discussed designing a yearthat aligns with your passions,
letting go of the shoulds andtaking intentional steps towards
a fulfilling life.
I'd love to hear about thepossibilities you're excited to
(19:10):
explore this year.
Share your thoughts and goalswith me on social media.
On Facebook.
I'll have the link below in theshow notes, or just send me a
message through email.
Also link in the show notesyour stories.
Send me a message through email, also link in the show notes.
Your stories inspire me so muchand our entire community.
If you found value in today'sepisode, please consider
(19:30):
subscribing, leaving a review orsharing this podcast with
someone who might benefit from afresh perspective on the new
year.
Your support helps us reachmore listeners and grow our
community.
So remember 2025 is a blankcanvas.
That's exciting.
It's filled with endlesspossibilities.
Approach it with curiosity,embrace what excites you and
(19:54):
design a year that trulyreflects who you are.
Until next time, take care andkeep exploring those
possibilities.
Bye for now.
Are you ready to turn your 2025possibilities into reality?
Let's make it happen together.
I'm offering a free 30-minutediscovery call where you'll
(20:17):
explore your goals and design apersonalized plan to kickstart
your journey.
Don't wait.
Schedule your sessions today atthe link in the show notes or
reach out to me at heather, atheathercarycom.
Let's embrace the possibilitiesand make this your best year
yet.
Hi everyone and welcome back to the Real Food
Stories podcast.
How are you?
Did you make it through thatcrazy month of holiday fever,
boy?
It was a doozy, not going tolie.
Was it because Thanksgiving wasso close to all the holidays?
This year they just seemed toflow right into each other, and
having Hanukkah overlap withChristmas, it was a lot of fun
(00:24):
and exhausting all at the sametime.
In any event, happy, happy newyear to you.
This is a hard week, not goingto lie.
Getting back on track after amonth of celebrations.
I hope that you can take a deepbreath and just ease into the
week and give yourself a break.
No need to get crazy with bigchanges and resolutions just yet
(00:47):
.
So today, in the spirit ofeasing in, we're flipping the
script on the typical New Year'stalk, and I've been giving this
a lot of thought because, as anutrition coach and someone who
is literally in the business ofhelping people succeed at their
health and fitness goals, thistime of year is on my mind a lot
(01:08):
, because I know that it is onyour mind too.
This year, though, we arefocusing on something different
the possibilities, what lightsyou up, what feels exciting and
what makes your life feel morejoyful, exciting, and what makes
your life feel more joyful.
(01:28):
So, instead of rigidresolutions, I want to explore
how we can design a year weactually want to live, one that
feels inspiring, aligned andachievable.
All right, let's talk aboutresolutions for a second.
You know the drill.
January rolls around andsuddenly everyone feels the
pressure to fix themselves Loseweight, go to the gym every day,
quit sugar, save more money,wake up at 5 am.
(01:51):
It's like we all collectivelydecided we weren't good enough
just the way we are.
But here's the truth.
Resolutions are broken bydesign.
They're often vague, they'reoverly ambitious or tied to
things we don't even really careabout, just things we think
we're supposed to care about.
And here's a fun fact for youabout 90% of resolutions fail by
(02:17):
February.
Why is that?
Because resolutions are likeputting a Band-Aid on a much
bigger mindset issue.
They're reactive, notintentional.
Let me give you an example.
How many times have you set aresolution like I'm going to eat
healthier this year?
Sounds good, right, but whatdoes that actually mean?
(02:39):
Are you cutting out fast food?
Are you cooking at home everynight?
Are you eating out fast food?
Are you cooking at home everynight?
Are you eating more vegetables.
It's so vague that there's noreal plan.
And when there's no plan,there's no follow through.
Then, by February, life happens.
You get busy, you get stressedor just plain tired.
(03:00):
It's February, it's dark andsuddenly that eat healthier
resolution feels like a distantmemory.
But it's not just the lack ofclarity that trips us up.
Resolutions also fail becausethey're often rooted in guilt or
shame.
They're born out of a place ofnot enoughness.
(03:21):
I need to be skinnier, I needto be healthier, more productive
.
I mean and don't get me startedabout the pressure that women
in midlife feel at this timeabout aging and making sure that
we look a certain way.
But when we start from thatplace, we're already setting
ourselves up to fail.
(03:41):
Think about it.
How motivated do you feel whenyou're focused on all the ways?
You're falling short.
Here's where I want to flip thescript.
Instead of resolutions, I liketo think about the new year as
an opportunity to explorepossibilities.
Doesn't that sound so much moreinviting than the word
(04:04):
resolution?
Resolutions are about fixingwhat's wrong.
Possibilities are about leaninginto what's right, what excites
you, what brings you joy, whatfeels meaningful to you.
I've seen this shift in my ownlife and with my clients.
When we focus on possibilities,we're not forcing ourselves
(04:26):
into a rigid box.
We're creating space to growand experiment in ways that
actually fit our lives.
For example, instead of sayingI need to go to the gym every
day, what if you asked yourselfwhat's a movement practice that
I could actually love, that Ienjoy, that I feel curious about
?
Or instead of I need to eatless sugar, what about exploring
(04:51):
how to cook meals that nourishyou and make you feel good?
Resolutions are about pressure.
Possibilities are aboutcuriosity, and curiosity.
That's where real change begins.
So I hope that you can see thatresolutions are probably not
going to work in your future.
(05:12):
Let's count those out.
So what is in?
Let me introduce you to what Ilike to call the possibilities
mindset.
This isn't about checking boxesor achieving perfection.
It's just about getting curious.
It's about asking yourself whatwould make this year feel
exciting.
What's something I've alwayswanted to explore?
(05:34):
The possibilities mindset isn'trigid.
It's open-ended and playful.
Instead of focusing on what youthink you should do, it's about
discovering what lights you upand makes you feel like your
best self.
It's about discovering whatlights you up and makes you feel
like your best self.
And let me tell you when youframe your year this way, it's a
total game changer.
Here's how it works.
(05:57):
Start by thinking about yourlife as it is right now.
What's calling for yourattention?
It might be something big, likeimproving your health, or
something smaller, like findingthe time to relax or reconnect
with hobbies that you love.
The key here is curiosity.
Lean into what excites you orfeels meaningful, not what
(06:20):
society is telling you toprioritize.
For me, I've realized that Ihave been craving more quiet.
For me, I've realized that Ihave been craving more quiet.
Life feels so noisy sometimesBetween social media, excessive
emails and all the busyness.
I've been longing for a reset.
That's why one of my 2025possibilities is limiting my
(06:45):
time on social media.
I've set specific app timersand even decided that mornings
and evenings are for real life,not scrolling.
It's a small shift, but itfeels so freeing.
Already you know what thatfeels like to get on Instagram
and suddenly 45 minutes has goneby and you don't even know what
(07:05):
you have accomplished.
That's how I've been feeling,so I am going to make a very
intentional shift away fromsocial media this year.
Another possibility I'm steppinginto this year is rediscovering
my love of books and reading.
I used to read all the time.
This was my number one hobbyand somewhere along the way I
(07:28):
let that habit slip.
Hello social media andInstagram.
So this year I just joined abook club and now I have to read
because I want to show upprepared.
It's like I created built-inaccountability for something I
actually enjoy.
And so far we've had our firstbook club meeting and it's a
(07:50):
great way to just stay on taskwith books and I'm having a
great time.
And then there's my body.
This year I am focusing onfeeling strong and capable.
I've joined a gym and startedworking with a personal trainer,
not because I feel like I haveto, but because I want to
(08:10):
challenge myself in a way thatfeels exciting.
The possibilities mindset shiftsthe focus from external
expectations to internal desires.
It's not about what the worldsays you should do.
It's about what feels right toyou.
Maybe your possibility isfinally starting that creative
(08:33):
project you've been dreamingabout, or maybe it's something
as simple as committing to onewalk a day to clear your mind.
The beauty of possibilities isthat there's no pressure to get
it right.
You're just experimenting.
You're exploring and openingyourself up to growth.
And guess what.
That's where real, lastingchange happens, not from a place
(08:55):
of guilt, but from a place ofcuriosity and joy.
So what possibilities arecalling to you this year?
What feels exciting, meaningfulor even a little bit scary, but
in a good way, give that somethought.
I would love to hear from you.
If you ever want to just reachout to me and send me an email.
(09:16):
I would really love to knowwhat your possibilities are for
this year.
All right, so you're feelinginspired by the possibilities
mindset, but how do you takethat inspiration and turn it
into something tangible?
This is where designing youryear comes in.
It's not about creating a rigiddo or die plan.
It's about setting up your yearin a way that feels purposeful
(09:39):
and doable.
Here's how I approach it.
First step start with curiosity, ask yourself and take some
time to do this.
Get a notebook, give yourself afew minutes just to be alone in
some quiet and ask yourselfwhat would make this year feel
amazing for me.
(09:59):
Notice I didn't say perfect orproductive.
This is about what excites you.
Maybe it's reconnecting withthose old hobbies, exploring a
new fitness routine or evencreating more time just to be
Okay.
Step two let's get specific andpractical.
(10:23):
The next step is to get clear onwhat you're actually going to
do.
Vague goals like eat healthieror exercise more are a recipe
for frustration, trust me.
I have been there, I know this.
Instead, think about actionsyou can measure and build into
your routine.
Take my goal of moving my bodymore this year.
(10:44):
I didn't just say I want towork out.
Instead, I joined a gym andbooked sessions with a personal
trainer.
I also blocked time on mycalendar for workouts, just like
I would for any otherappointment.
Having that structure makes itso much easier to stay
consistent and, honestly, itfeels exciting to see progress,
(11:05):
even in small ways.
I have been feeling great aboutmyself just showing up to the
gym.
I've been an at-home gym personfor years, probably since COVID
, and just showing up at the gymfeels really good, something I
can sort of check off my list.
The next step you want to do isto build in accountability.
(11:25):
Accountability is like thesecret sauce of goal setting.
Without it, it's easy to letthings slide.
That's why I've set app timerson my phone to help me limit my
social media.
I even told a friend about myplan so they can check in on me.
It's not about pressure.
It's about creating gentlereminders to keep me on track.
(11:46):
For you, accountability mightmean sharing your goals with a
friend, or joining the gym witha friend, or even just writing
them down somewhere that you'llsee them every single day the
refrigerator.
Tacking things up on therefrigerator is never a bad idea
.
You have to open that thingevery single day.
And the final step start smalland adjust as you go.
(12:10):
Don't overwhelm yourself bytrying to tackle everything at
once.
Big changes come from small,consistent, tiny steps.
If you want to move more, startwith a short daily walk.
If you're trying to cook more,start with one new recipe a week
.
The point is to build momentum,not burnout.
(12:34):
Don't get yourself overwhelmed.
And here's the best part youdon't have to have it all
figured out right now.
Just take the first step.
Designing your year is a process.
As life changes, yourpriorities might shift, and
that's totally fine.
The key is to stay curious andkeep moving towards the things
(12:55):
that matter most to you.
So what's one small, specificstep you can take this week to
start designing your year?
Maybe it's signing up for thatclass you've been eyeing, or
scheduling time to brainstormyour own possibilities.
Whatever it is, start where youare and let the rest unfold.
(13:16):
All right, let's talk about theshoulds.
You know the ones.
I should lose weight, I shouldones.
I should lose weight, I shouldexercise, I should eat better.
These are the phrases we've allsaid to ourselves at some point
, usually with a side of guiltand a sprinkle of self-judgment.
But here's the thing theshoulds are sneaky little joy
(13:39):
stealers.
They're rooted in externalpressures, what society, social
media or even your own innercritic says we should do to be
better.
And when we approach our yearfrom that place, it's not
empowering, it's exhausting.
So let's take fitness, forexample.
For years I used to think Ishould go to the gym more, but
(14:04):
every time I framed it that way,it felt like a chore.
I'd start strong for a week ortwo, then miss a session, I'd
feel guilty and spiral into thewhy bother mindset.
Does it sound familiar?
What changed for me wasshifting the narrative from
should to want.
Instead of I should go to thegym, I started asking what kind
(14:26):
of movement would make me feelstrong and energized.
That's when I realized I didn'twant to punish myself with
workouts.
I wanted to build strength andfeel good in my body.
And this year, like I've said,I've joined the gym again and I
am working with a personaltrainer, not because I should,
but because I want to.
(14:47):
The same goes for food.
The shoulds say things like Ishouldn't eat that dessert or I
should cut out carbs, but whathappens?
You either feel deprived, youmight end up binging later or
end up in that endless cycle ofguilt.
Instead of following thoserules, I like to think about how
food can nourish me physically,emotionally and even socially.
(15:11):
Here's what I want you toremember.
The shoulds are usually loud,demanding and rigid.
Possibilities, on the otherhand, are quiet.
They're open, they're kind.
They don't demand perfection.
They invite you to explore.
Let's reframe the shouldstogether.
Instead of saying I should eathealthier, let's try.
(15:36):
I want to explore meals thatmake me feel energized and
satisfied.
Instead of saying I should lose, weight becomes I want to feel
strong, confident and capable inmy body, and another I should
be more productive turns into Iwant to create space for things
(15:56):
that truly matter to me.
When we let go of the shoulds,we create room for goals and
habits that feel authentic,exciting and sustainable.
And here's the kicker You'remore likely to stick with them
because they come from a placeof desire instead of obligation.
So what's one should you canlet go of this year?
(16:18):
What's one possibility you canreplace it with?
Maybe you'll realize you don'tneed to overhaul your whole life
.
You just need to realign withwhat makes you feel alive and
good.
All right, now it's your turn.
We've talked about leavingresolutions behind, embracing a
(16:39):
possibilities mindset, designingyour year and letting go of the
shoulds.
So here's the big question whatpossibilities are calling to
you this year?
Take a moment to think about it.
What would make 2025 feelmeaningful, exciting or just
plain fun?
It doesn't have to be a huge,life-changing goal.
(16:59):
Sometimes the most impactfulchanges come from the simplest
shifts like saying yes to a newhobby, carving out time to rest
or even just being more presentwith the people you love.
Here's a little exercise to getyou started.
Imagine it's December of 2025, awhole year from now.
(17:21):
You're sitting down to reflecton the year.
What are you proud of?
What brought you the most joy?
What's something you said yesto that made your life better?
Once you have an idea, write itdown and then ask yourself
what's the first step I can taketo move towards that
(17:43):
possibility.
It could be just signing up forthat class, scheduling time in
your calendar or even tellingsomeone about your plan to hold
yourself accountable For me.
Going back to my possibilitiesfor this year and reading more
books I joined a book club.
I said yes to the book club.
(18:04):
I didn't really know who was init, I don't know the books, but
I just simply said yes.
The other possibility isbuilding strength and confidence
in my body.
My first step I scheduled asession with a personal trainer.
These are small actions, butthey're setting the foundation
for a year that I'm excited tolive and remember.
(18:26):
You don't have to map out theentire year right now.
Start small, start where youare and let your journey unfold
from there.
Thank you for joining me on thisjourney toward embracing
possibilities in 2025.
Your time and attention meanthe world to me and I'm grateful
to have you as part of thiscommunity.
(18:47):
To recap today we explored howto shift from rigid resolutions
to a mindset brimming withpossibilities.
We discussed designing a yearthat aligns with your passions,
letting go of the shoulds andtaking intentional steps towards
a fulfilling life.
I'd love to hear about thepossibilities you're excited to
(19:10):
explore this year.
Share your thoughts and goalswith me on social media.
On Facebook.
I'll have the link below in theshow notes, or just send me a
message through email.
Also link in the show notesyour stories.
Send me a message through email, also link in the show notes.
Your stories inspire me so muchand our entire community.
If you found value in today'sepisode, please consider
(19:30):
subscribing, leaving a review orsharing this podcast with
someone who might benefit from afresh perspective on the new
year.
Your support helps us reachmore listeners and grow our
community.
So remember 2025 is a blankcanvas.
That's exciting.
It's filled with endlesspossibilities.
Approach it with curiosity,embrace what excites you and
(19:54):
design a year that trulyreflects who you are.
Until next time, take care andkeep exploring those
possibilities.
Bye for now.
Are you ready to turn your 2025possibilities into reality?
Let's make it happen together.
I'm offering a free 30-minutediscovery call where you'll
(20:17):
explore your goals and design apersonalized plan to kickstart
your journey.
Don't wait.
Schedule your sessions today atthe link in the show notes or
reach out to me at heather, atheathercarycom.
Let's embrace the possibilitiesand make this your best year
yet.
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