Welcome to 2025, a year seared into our psyche for months. A year with the dubious distinction of ominous notoriety long before it began. As is habitual, we retain a strong desire to turn the page on the old and usher in the new no matter what. Social media has been full of New Year's resolutions, with the expected focus on ourselves with vows to eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight, and save money topping the list. If past years are any indicator, we always find these vows hard to keep. We also express the usual hopes and dreams: "Let the coming year bring you endless opportunities, new adventures, and prosperity." There's even a touch of bravado: "Bring it on! 2025 will be my year."

Heartfelt as many of us are with our resolutions and messages; the universe does not change its trajectory when we post on social media or turn the page on a calendar year. Contrary to how some behave, the world does not revolve around our human desires any more than the sun only shines on the chosen ones. We inhabit an intricate and mysterious universe that beats to its own rhythm and systems in time and space. It is a neutral canvas that perfectly reflects the consequences of your choices. For example, if you choose not to accept help when you need it and end up feeling overwhelmed and alone, it is a direct consequence of your decision and yours alone.

Logic suggests that this would cause us to pause when it comes to destructive behavior, but logic gets lost because we are born with a constant dilemma. On the one hand, we are spirits—immortal beings—and on the other, we have physical bodies (stamped with expiry dates) that are very demanding. They are so demanding, in fact, that we are very susceptible to reactive and selfish survival-based behavior that blinds us to the needs of others. My coaching practice is full of people needing assistance with the consequences of such destructive behavior, whether theirs, somebody else's, or both. And this is an ongoing challenge for most of us. Just the other day, when I was feeling very hungry, and dinner was later than I had expected, I lost my temper, which created unnecessary misery all around, including my subsequent guilt and embarrassment at my lack of control.

By focusing entirely on our material wants and needs, we promote selfishness and create misery and conflict, which begs the question: Is it possible to live a balanced life in which you nurture your spirit while caring for your body? Is this a realistic goal in today's materialistic society, where even some religious leaders preach that material wealth is a sign of God's blessing? We have become so invested in the material world that companies working on extending the human life span are projected to be worth at least $600 billion this year.

It's highly symbolic that former President Jimmy Carter departed this world when he did. The contrast between the former President's life and the current climate couldn't be starker. The announcement of his death on December 29th, 2024, has been met with a spontaneous outpouring of love and admiration around the globe. Carter led a life dedicated to service and, even in his nineties, could be found up a ladder constructing another new home for a needy family. And yet, when he was born in Georgia in 1924, the family home had no electricity or indoor plumbing.

In the spirit of the late president, I pledge to approach 2025 differently. Rather than living another year of disagreements, discord, and failed goals, let's follow Carter's example and use his words to sustain and inspire us. "Spirit," he once said, "is like the wind, in that we can't see it but can see its effects, which are profound."

So, here are some alternative resolutions for the coming year to sustain and uplift your spirits: Pledge to ask yourself daily: How can I be of help today? What do I have that I can share? Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” Ask instead, “What can I learn from this?” Choose to be kind, practice patience, and take responsibility for your actions. And don't get discouraged; every day is a blank canvas, and it's never too late to start contributing to a new year that will be completely different, should we choose it to be so.