Purposeful Lessons Learned in 2025

One way to bring greater purpose into a new year is to reflect on the lessons you learned or were reminded of in the one wrapping up. Here are ten lessons that rose to the forefront for me in 2025.

For several years, I have conducted a monthly review that includes noting my top lessons learned or reaffirmed during that month. I used to share these monthly recaps, in the form of a photo of my handwritten journal pages featuring them, on my various social media platforms.

I still conduct my reviews, as I find this such a helpful component for meaningful work and a purposeful life, but I no longer share them publicly each month. Today, however, I thought I’d wrap up 2025 by offering ten purposeful lessons I’m bringing into the new year with me - in part so that maybe they spark ideas for your own list, and also in the hopes that you’ll share some of your lessons with me. We are all works in progress and, if being on Substack for the past year or so has taught me anything, it’s that we are surrounded by brilliant people from whom we can learn so much. Feel free to share a lesson of your own in the comments below.

Thank you so much for being a part of this Reading And Purpose community! I am ever grateful for you.

2025 Lessons Learned (aka, My Note To Self)

1. Celebrate small, quiet, meaningful wins - including the ones no one else might ever know or care about - as if they were as important as the big, bold ones. Because they are.

2. Start each day noting one thing you’re excited for. End each day noting one thing you’re proud of yourself for.

3. Take the moment to share the compliment, kind thought, or thank you. Verbally, in a handwritten note, as a comment on someone’s post…don’t just think it, let them know. It could be just what they need to hear, at just the right time.

4. Questions? Decisions? Uncertainties? Consult your values, purpose, and what matters most. They will not lead you astray.

5. Take the walk. Even if (especially if) you don’t think you have the time. You never regret taking the walk.

6. Spend less time thinking about, stressing over, and/or pre-worrying, and more time being proactive, taking action, and doing.

7. Bring back your long-standing but recently-put-aside CEO Fridays, blocking dedicated time each month to your vision, goals, strategies, and plans. Your dreams are worth it.

8. Be the duck: Like water rolls off a duck’s back, let the minor annoyances roll off yours. Save your energy and attention for the stuff that matters.

9. Shift your ‘what if’ questions. What if it all works out better than you imagined? What if things are moving in your favor behind the scenes? What if you’re almost there?

10. Trust is a powerful, purposeful force. Trust the process, trust your gut, trust yourself. You’ve got this.

Do any of my lessons speak to you, too? What lessons will you be carrying into 2026? Feel free to share your helpful insights and wisdom in the comments below.

Happy New Year, dear readers! And thank you again for being here.

****************

Dr. Christi Hegstad is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and self-proclaimed book nerd, here to help you work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals! Peruse coaching opportunities at ChristiHegstad.com, email questions to ReadingAndPurpose(at)gmail(dot)com, and check out book recommendations at the Reading And Purpose bookshop.org store (your book purchases through the links provided may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you).

Thank you for being here!