#74 | 12.13.24 - 5 Things to Stop Doing in 2025 / The Questions App / 5 More ChatGPT Prompts to Help You Think / Perspective on Grief
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5 Things to Stop Doing in 2025
As 2024 hands the baton to 2025, we stand on the threshold of so much possibility! It feels like January was just yesterday, and I was writing down my goals for the new year. As we consider our aspirations for 2025, I think it’s helpful to consider that change and growth aren’t always about adding more—they can also be about letting go. Before you start writing down all you want to achieve, take a moment to consider what you should leave behind. Here are five things to stop doing in 2025:
1. Comparison
In an age of social media highlights and polished public images, measuring our worth by what we see on someone else’s feed is easy. But constantly comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to someone’s carefully curated highlight reel only robs you of joy. Instead of focusing on where you fall short, look inward and recognize your own unique journey. True fulfillment comes not from matching someone else’s success, but from defining and achieving your own.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” —Theodore Roosevelt
2. Being Negative
Negativity can become a habit that colors every experience. While venting about challenges might offer temporary relief, wallowing in pessimism serves no constructive purpose. Choose to see difficulties as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as evidence that life is unfair. Surround yourself with uplifting influences, and when you find negativity creeping in, ask yourself how you can reframe the situation. Your mindset shapes your reality.
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” —Maya Angelou
3. Comfort
Too much comfort can make us complacent. When we’re safe in our routines and never stretch beyond what we know, we miss out on growth, discovery, and new capabilities we never imagined we possessed. Growth happens when we lean into discomfort, take on meaningful challenges, and test the boundaries of our potential. Embrace change and view uncertainty not as a threat but as a gateway to the extraordinary.
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” —John A. Shedd
4. Ignoring Mental Health
In a world that often celebrates hustle and productivity, ignoring your emotional well-being can feel easier than acknowledging it. Yet, brushing aside anxiety, stress, or depression only allows them to fester. Don’t wait until a breaking point to care for your mind. Seek therapy, talk to trusted friends, practice mindfulness, or simply schedule downtime to recharge. Your mental health is the foundation upon which every other goal rests.
“You’ll worry less about what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do.” —David Foster Wallace
5. Dwelling on the Past
Your past is a teacher, not a prison. Read that again! Repeating old mistakes and regrets holds you hostage in a story that no longer serves you. Learn from your past, but don’t live there. Each new year is a blank page waiting to be filled with experiences that reflect who you are now, not who you used to be. Embrace the future with optimism and intention.
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” —C.S. Lewis
As you step into 2025, consider the power of subtraction. By releasing these unhelpful habits, you make room for things that truly matter.
The Question App
My friend Matt provided another great resource this week - this is a list of great icebreaker questions. I talked with a leader this week who has been using this list at the start of her team meetings. Great idea!
5 More ChatGPT Prompts to Help You Think
A few weeks ago, I shared prompts with ChatGPT to assess its knowledge about you. This list differs from that one. In this instance, you will provide specific parameters, and the AI will assist you in considering a situation. Here’s an example:
"You are now my brutally honest mentor who calls out my self-deception. Ask me what goal I'm struggling to achieve. After I respond, mercilessly point out the lies I'm telling myself. Challenge every excuse. Mock my weak justifications. Make me defend my position until I admit the real reason I'm not taking action. Don't let me off easy - keep pushing until I reach complete honesty about what's truly holding me back. Then help me create an action plan based on this new truth."
Perspective on Grief
The holiday season can be a painful reminder for those grieving the loss of loved ones. Instead of providing the traditional warmth and joy, the festivities often amplify feelings of sorrow and loss. Lauren Herschel has a helpful perspective on grief using a powerful illustration.
Words to wrap up:
"The amateur does not know what to do. The master knows what not to do."
- James Clear