Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind podcast, where we’re learning how to be happier by working with our minds. If you’d like to know more about what I teach or want me to guide you in becoming happier in 2025, visit moniquerhodes.com. Click on courses, and you’ll find everything you need there.
A Moment of Reflection
Welcome to the new year and this moment—a pause in time where you stand at the doorway between what’s been and what could be. New Year’s Day carries a particular energy, doesn’t it? It feels like possibility, like a blank slate, a quiet invitation to ask yourself: Who am I? Who do I want to become?
This isn’t about resolutions hastily scribbled down and forgotten by February. It’s not about forcing yourself into someone else’s version of success or perfection. It’s about something deeper—consciously choosing who you want to be this year. Not what you want to accomplish or fix, but who you want to become as a person.
Growth doesn’t happen by accident. If you’re not clear about where you want to go, the default settings of life—distraction, busyness, and the noise of everyone else’s expectations—will decide for you.
Who Do You Want to Become?
On this first day of 2025, I encourage you to pause and look inward. Forget for a moment what the world expects of you. Forget the pressure to set impressive goals. Instead, ask yourself:
- What kind of person do I want to become in this new year?
The question isn’t: What do I need to fix about myself? It’s: What parts of me do I want to nurture and grow?
- Maybe you want to become more patient, moving through life without rushing or snapping when things don’t go your way.
- Maybe you want to become more generous—not with money, but with your time, attention, and presence.
- Maybe you want to become someone brave enough to take risks, live fully, and stop letting fear hold you back.
Focusing on who you want to become isn’t about achieving one perfect result. It’s about the practice of becoming. You begin to move through your days and make decisions differently. You shape your life not based on what the world rewards, but on what feels meaningful and right to you.
Small Choices, Big Changes
Here’s something to remember: The person you become isn’t shaped by one grand, life-changing moment. It’s shaped by the small, consistent choices you make every day.
- If you want to become kinder, practice kindness in small moments—with strangers, yourself, and those closest to you.
- If you want to become more resilient, show up for challenges as best you can, even when it’s hard or messy.
- If you want to become more present, practice putting your phone down, looking someone in the eye, or truly listening.
These moments might not seem significant on their own, but they add up. Every choice you make is a vote for the kind of person you’re becoming. Over time, these small choices create big changes.
Direction, Not Perfection
When we talk about growth and becoming, the perfectionist voice often shows up:
- What if I fail?
- What if I fall back into old habits?
But becoming the person you want to be isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to get it right every time. You just need to keep moving in the direction of what feels true to you.
And when you slip up—and you will, because we all do—simply start again. That’s the beauty of a new year, a new day, or even a new moment. You can choose to begin again.
Living With Intention
Let go of the idea that you need to be perfect this year. Instead, commit to being conscious and aware of your choices. Notice whether your actions align with the person you want to be. When they don’t, acknowledge it without judgment and redirect. That awareness is powerful—it’s what allows you to grow and change.
A New Year’s Invitation
As you step into 2025, ask yourself:
- What qualities do I want to embody this year?
- What kind of energy do I want to bring into my relationships, my work, and my life?
Write it down. Say it out loud. Hold it close. Then, one small step at a time, live into that vision. The person you want to become isn’t some distant, unattainable version of yourself. That person is already within you, waiting to be nurtured, practiced, and brought to life.
And the best part? You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to start. You can begin today. You can begin right now.
Here’s to a Year of Becoming
Here’s to a year of conscious becoming.
Here’s to showing up—not perfectly, but intentionally.
Here’s to choosing growth over comfort, love over fear, and direction over distraction.
The year ahead is yours. Who do you want to become?
Happy New Year! Don’t forget to join me in The Happiness Club if you want to make 2025 an extraordinary year. Visit moniquerhodes.com, click on courses, and find The Happiness Club.
As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
