As we step into 2025, I want to share something that has completely transformed the way I approach goal-setting and success. I’ve ditched the word resolution – and I think you should too.
The Problem with Resolutions
Think about what the word resolution means to you. How does it make you feel? If you’re like most people, it probably brings up thoughts of setting ambitious goals on January 1st, going all in for a few weeks, and then (somewhere around mid-February) feeling like everything is starting to fall apart.
Someone once described a resolution to me as “something I believe with all my soul that I will do… and then don’t.” That hit me hard.
It’s a problematic word, and here’s why: The dictionary defines resolution as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” The issue is in that one word – firm.
When you make a firm decision to do something, it leaves no room for flexibility. No space for real life to happen. And when things inevitably don’t go as planned, you feel like you’ve failed. And that feeling of failure often becomes an excuse to quit altogether.
Resolutions Set You Up for Failure
Let’s say you make a firm resolution to go to the gym three times a week. Great goal, right? But then life happens. You get sick, work gets hectic, or your kids need you. You miss a week. Suddenly, you’ve failed to keep your resolution, and it feels like proof that you’re just not someone who goes to the gym three times a week.
That’s the trap of resolutions. When we don’t meet them exactly as planned, we internalise it as failure – and repeated failures like this make it easy to give up.
Why Intentions Are More Powerful Than Resolutions
So, instead of resolutions, I prefer to set intentions.
Intentions are powerful because they allow for flexibility. They focus on why you’re doing something rather than just what you’re doing.
For example, instead of a resolution to go to the gym three times a week, you set the intention to exercise regularly to boost your energy levels.
See the difference?
With an intention, even if you miss the gym, you can still do something aligned with your goal. Maybe you go for a walk, do some stretching at home, or take a yoga class instead. You’re still honoring your commitment to movement and energy – without the crushing guilt of breaking a rigid resolution.
This powerful shift in language keeps you moving forward. It allows you to adapt while still staying true to what you ultimately want to achieve. It prevents the all-or-nothing mindset of setting resolutions that so often leads to giving up entirely.
Focus on the Outcome, Not the Logistics
When you focus on intentions rather than rigid resolutions, you stop obsessing over the exact steps you think you should take and start prioritising the result you want to create.
You give yourself permission to adjust. To pivot. To find ways to make things work despite life’s inevitable curveballs.
And when you do that? You keep going, and you prove to yourself – over and over – that you can do this. That you are someone who follows through. That success is possible, even when things don’t go exactly to plan.
The Science Behind Intentions
There’s actually psychological research supporting why intentions work better than resolutions. Studies show that when we set rigid, high-pressure goals, our brains respond with stress and anxiety. This stress can make it harder to follow through because we associate the goal with pressure rather than motivation.
Intentions, on the other hand, activate a more positive response. By focusing on the bigger picture – your ultimate why – your brain stays engaged and adaptable. Instead of feeling like you failed if you don’t follow a rigid plan, you stay committed to the broader outcome.
Your Challenge for 2025
As we begin this new year, I encourage you to rethink any resolutions you’ve already set. Instead, shift your focus to intentions – ones that allow for flexibility, adaptability, and long-term success.
Then, take action. Because intentions alone won’t get you where you want to go. It’s the steps you take – big and small – that create real transformation.
So, what intentions are you setting for 2025? I’d love to hear them! Drop me a message, send me an email, or connect with me on social media (all my contact details are detailed below). Let’s make 2025 a year of aligned action, sustainable success, and true fulfilment!
Other relevant blogs/podcasts:
- You have the power to change the narrative (and why willpower and motivation alone never works)
- The ONE question you need to ask yourself to start creating the life you truly desire
- You need to listen to this BEFORE you dive headlong into your business goals
And if you prefer to listen to this in audio form, you can find my podcast on this exact topic on Spotify here and on Apple Podcasts here.