An Epic 2025 Will Require Epic HABITS!
By Stephen Doherty
January 5th, 2025
“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.
It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” – William Jennings Bryan
For reasons too numerous to document here – I am of the opinion that 2025 is going to be an EPIC year … for ALL of us! To ensure that we get there together, I wanted to throw out a few ideas. This year is too important to trust to whim or silly commitments we’ve spent a lifetime not honoring. (AKA New Years Resolutions) Here are a few of my own thoughts – discoveries, revealed via a lifetime of stumbling and failing … and ultimately succeeding. For the record, succeeding is much more satisfying!
The start of a new year isn’t just about resolutions; it’s about intentionally shaping the habits that will drive you toward your goals and objectives. I’ve tried to capture how embracing specific habits can propel you toward achieving your destiny, step by step, throughout 2025!
1. Start with a Clear Vision: Know What You Want
One of the most crucial steps in crafting an epic year is defining what it is you truly want. What are your dreams? What legacy do you want to create? Having a clear vision of your future provides direction and focus. Without it, it’s easy to get caught up in the paralyzing noise of daily life and lose sight of what we’re trying to achieve.
Habit: Get a cheap notebook and spend some time journaling. WRITE IT DOWN! Visualize your success and make it crystal clear – then break it down into smaller goals to help you stay on track and monitor progress.
2. Cultivate Daily Rituals: Small Steps Lead to Big Changes
Habits are the small actions we repeat every day. When these actions align with our goals, they compound over time and lead to extraordinary results. Whether it’s exercising every morning, reading daily, or dedicating time to personal growth, establishing a set of positive daily rituals is essential for success.
Habit: Start your day with a morning ritual that primes you for the day ahead. Incorporate practices like meditation, exercise, or positive affirmations to create a mindset of clarity and purpose.
3. Master Time Management: Prioritize What Matters Most
How we spend our days determines the trajectory of our lives. Mastering time management is about focusing on tasks that contribute to your long-term goals and eliminating distractions. We’ve mastered the art of “being busy” and lost the benefit of “being productive.”
Habit: Put the big rocks in the jar first! Tackle the hardest, most important task first thing in the morning. This sets the tone for the day and ensures you’re progressing toward your bigger goals.
4. Build Resilience: Overcome Challenges with Grace
No journey to greatness is without its obstacles. The ability to bounce back after setbacks and continue moving forward is a hallmark of successful individuals. Developing resilience allows you to see challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities for growth. I didn’t enjoy acquiring the many scars I have – but the experience under those scars elevated me from the abyss.
Habit: Practice self-compassion and cultivate a growth mindset. When faced with adversity, remind yourself that challenges are a natural part of success. Embrace mistakes as lessons rather than failures. Our lives will ultimately be defined by how we responded to all we encountered – good and bad.
5. Practice Gratitude: Shift Your Focus to Abundance
Gratitude is a superpower that can dramatically transform your mindset. When you focus on what’s going well in your life, rather than what’s missing, you begin to create an abundant mindset. This shift opens up more opportunities for growth and success.
Habit: In your notebook, every evening, write down three things you’re grateful for. These can be simple or profound. This practice helps you recognize your blessings and stay motivated, even when times get tough. And times will always get tough!
6. Nurture Your Health: Physical Wellness Fuels Mental Power
To score an “epic” year, your body needs to be a vessel of energy and vitality. Good physical health supports mental clarity, boosts your mood, and helps you stay focused on your goals. Without physical well-being, it’s difficult to sustain the energy required for success.
Habit: Commit to regular exercise, sleep, and a balanced diet. Even small improvements in your daily health habits will yield tremendous benefits in terms of energy and productivity.
7. Embrace Lifelong Learning: Never Stop Growing
The most successful people are those who never stop learning. My year ends … and begins with a review of the books I’ve read and a new list for the book’s I’ll be reading. I shoot for two a month. Whether it’s reading, taking courses, or learning new skills, staying curious and open to growth is essential.
Habit: Dedicate time each week to learn something new. It could be reading books related to your field or exploring new hobbies and interests. Every bit of knowledge gained brings you closer to your ideal future. With audible books and an almost infinite array of podcasts and YouTube learning videos, knowledge has never been easier to acquire – nor more valuable.
8. Surround Yourself with Positivity: Build a Supportive Network
This is a big one for me. The people you surround yourself with have a profound impact on your mindset and level of achievement. My mental health and success (DUH!) have coincided with the cultivating and nurturing of very special relationships that feed my spirit and fuel my soul! I’m at a point in my life where I refuse to apologize or even ponder the discharge of negative influences in my universe. I’m on a mission and I want Gladiators in my corner – not bystanders or detractors.
Habit: Choose to invest time in relationships that uplift and encourage you. Seek out mentors, friends, or communities that align with your values and aspirations. There is nothing more important to a healthy river than the tributaries that feed it!
9. Stay Consistent: The Power of Persistence
Jack Lemon played a dying father in the movie “Dad” and one of the last things he ever uttered to his son, as he smiled up from his hospital bed with only minutes left to live, “Son, it’s AMAZING what can happen and what you can accomplish … if you just get out of bed and pull on your work boots!” Developing the habit of showing up every day, even when you don’t feel like it, is one of the most powerful success traits any of us can cultivate.
Habit: Create a system for accountability. Whether it’s through tracking your progress, partnering with an accountability buddy, or setting regular check-ins with yourself, consistency is the key to making lasting change.
10. Reflect and Adjust: Keep Evolving
Reflection and contemplation have become my constant companions as the years go by. There is nothing I enjoy more than some quiet time to mull over and appreciate the daily soil I’ve tilled while contemplating the best ways to till tomorrow’s fields. The journey towards your destiny is not a straight line. Regular reflection helps you adjust your approach, ensuring that you’re always moving in the direction that aligns with your true calling.
Habit: Set aside time each day for self-reflection. Evaluate your progress, celebrate your successes, and identify areas for improvement. Use this time to realign with your goals and make any necessary adjustments.
Conclusion: An EPIC 2025 is Yours for the Asking
Experiencing an epic 2025 is not about instant results; it’s about cultivating the right habits over the course of the year, that align with your mission. By embracing these powerful habits into your daily life, you’ll find yourself becoming the person you were always meant to be—strong, resilient, focused, and capable of far, FAR more than you ever imagined.
So, this year, don’t just hope for change—take actionable steps toward OWNING this entire year! Embrace the power of habit and let this be the year you transform your life in ways you never thought possible! I just FEEL it – for ALL of us!
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” –James Clear
