Are You Listening…
This week – the one that transitions one year into another-  is always one of my favorites.
Shifts in the calendar naturally present the opportunity to pause and reflect – take stock of progress, insights, and the small and significant wins that may have gotten lost in the shuffle of everyday life – while the arrival of a new year brings celebration, hope, possibility and closure that makes room for fresh perspectives.  

Reflection allows us to reconnect with ourselves and others, offering clarity not just on what we’ve accomplished, but on what truly matters. Relationships—both with ourselves and those around us—become the bridge that connects our goals to meaningful growth.  

Just like my favorite geranium, who I’ve had before my garden was even a twinkle in my eye.  I always thought geraniums were annuals, destined to fade at the end of each summer, but this one was so gorgeous that I couldn’t bear to let it wither.

That’s when I learned that geraniums can last up to 40 years!  This new insight changed my perspective and challenged me to up my growth game, and now this dude has been thriving for almost 5 years!!!  

Five years also marks…

…a half-decade since the global shutdown that redefined how we connect, grow, and lead. It’s a reminder that growth is constant—it happens over time, but time itself doesn’t wait for anyone.  That doesn’t mean we can’t shape growth, even when things are uncertain or out of our control, growth begins with understanding where you are, what you’ve learned, and where you want to go.  Reflection helps identify insights and patterns that can be used to create a roadmap for more intentional change.

Track Your Growth

Our own growth is more obvious when we look back to significant markers in time, tracking those observations can help you relish in your progress and growth while considering the possibilities it presents for your future.

• What’s one thing you’re most proud of?
• When did you realize you had gotten stronger? ✋
• What themes or insights emerged for you this year?
• How can you leverage these insights to fuel your growth in 2025?

Growth becomes more meaningful when shared with others. Sharing not only sparks positive conversations and serves as a marker of progress, but it also creates shared memories that deepen connections and amplify your journey. 

Share these questions with someone (or many)—because growth is always better together. I know my geranium thinks so❤️

Growth Needs Goals

As we step into a new year, it’s easy to get caught up in resolutions and goals (or be adamantly against them). But real, sustainable growth is rarely about sweeping changes—it’s about intentional alignment across the areas that matter most. It’s a well known fact that we consistently overestimate what we can do in the short term and underestimate what we can do in the long term (refer to your answers above for proof:)) This mindset often makes our goals feel harder and more frustrating, adding unnecessary stress to our already busy lives. and who needs more of that?

One of my goals this year is to simplify. In fact, maybe simplify will be my word of the year. Simplifying doesn’t mean aiming lower—it means focusing on what matters most and creating space to grow intentionally.

Choosing a word of the year is a simple but powerful way to set the tone for what you want to focus on in the months ahead. It’s like a compass—helping you stay grounded in what matters most, whether it’s personal growth, professional goals, or cultivating a sense of balance and well-being.

What’s your word for 2025? Share it on the Google Form here, and let’s create a collective conversation around intentional growth this year.

We’d love to know your word of the year!  The link will take you to a form and we will be sharing results over the next few weeks. 

Growth Needs Fuel

Speaking of words… Burnout and stress remain at all-time highs.  The World Health Organization has even named Well-Being as a central call to action for the future. It’s a powerful reminder that prioritizing well-being isn’t just a personal choice—it’s essential for thriving in every area of life.

• Focused
• Energetic
• Agile
• Innovative
• Resilient

And Well-Being is centered on five core areas: Career, Relationships, Financial Health, Community, and Personal Well-Being.  This framework helps me simplify my focus and bring clarity to what’s most important day to day. 

To help fuel your growth I created a mini growth guide to help you get your year off to a great start!  Click the link below for the guide. 

Eat More Vegetables

Eating healthier is a perennial goal on my list.  I don’t actually mind vegetables (like some people who shall remain nameless) but the actual cooking of them doesn’t always seem to happen.  And then Ina Garten reminded me that roasting them is so simple, gives more flavor and overall just easier to make happen.  She was discussing other things on this interview and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it so I would recommend listening to it while roasting vegetables.

Pace Yourself for Growth

Coach Bennett, the Nike Running Head Global Coach, is one of my favorite coaches. I have been tracking my miles on the Nike Run app forever but it wasn’t until I started running with Coach Bennett’s his guided runs a few years ago that I learned how to pace myself running.  I am certain he would be very proud to hear that the main shift was starting slow- something I almost never do.

His consistent reminder to me is pacing yourself isn’t about going slow; it’s about going strong.  Transferring these words of wisdom beyond running approach growth like a long-distance run: steady, intentional, and anchored in what matters most.

A great run for the end/start of a year is his Bests of the Year Run .  

This link will only take you to that if you have the Nike Run app on your phone.  

You can also find his wisdom on Instagram or Substack.  

Now I enjoy my runs so much more and I can run continuously for longer periods of time.  I am still not running enough to get a street named after me like this guy, Robert “Raven” Kraft, who has run every day for the last 50 years. 

Running also makes me feel better mentally and physically and I am most inspired by the community he built through his commitment.  And now he has a street named after him – an epic growth marker.  

Celebrate Growth!!! 

Growth deserves to be celebrated—not just the big wins, but the small steps forward, the lessons learned, and even the tough seasons we’ve made it through.  It’s a reminder that every season of growth is worth some cheers🥂

Like a geranium, growth is nature and nurture, what matters most and finding joy in the process.As we step into 2025, I hope you can take a moment to reflect on your journey so far and celebrate how far you’ve come.  And don’t forget to download this mini growth guide to help simplify the process:)

Here’s to a year of thriving, growing, and maybe even simplifying (my geranium would definitely approve ❤️)

hank you for being part of the Personologie community! 

If you enjoyed this edition, feel free to share it with someone who might need a little inspiration. And as always, connect with me directly, or join my LinkedIn newsletter if you’d like even more frequent insights on Leadership, Well-Being, and Business Culture.