As the calendar flips to a new year, there’s something profoundly hopeful about that fresh, blank slate. It’s like holding a new journal in your hands, with pages waiting to be filled—not with perfection, but with the real, messy, beautiful stuff of life.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned a lot this past year. Some lessons came gently, like a whisper, while others arrived like a freight train, barreling through my carefully laid plans. And yet, here we are, standing at the edge of a new year with all its promise, possibility, and uncertainty.
So how do we step into the new year with hope? Let me share some thoughts from a conversation with friends that left me inspired and reflective.
1. Embrace the Value of Uncertainty
We often think we need certainty to feel secure, but life rarely offers that luxury. One friend put it beautifully: “There’s something hopeful about the unwritten part of the year ahead.” Sure, unexpected challenges will arise, but so will unexpected joys. The blank calendar isn’t a guarantee of smooth sailing, but it is a reminder that the story isn’t over. And that’s enough to keep moving forward.
2. Turn to Practices That Ground You
Journaling, gratitude, and community—these are the things that kept us anchored this year. Journaling helps us process the past, gratitude shifts our perspective in the present, and community reminds us we’re not alone. These aren’t just clichés; they’re practices that build resilience and hope, even when life feels overwhelming.
One of my friends shared how journaling helped him see the threads of growth woven through his struggles. Another discovered that gratitude wasn’t just a fleeting feeling but a daily practice of noticing the good amidst the chaos. And community? It’s the glue that holds us together when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.
3. Let Go of Shame and Guilt
This one’s big. For too long, many of us have used shame as a motivator—whether it’s guilt-tripping ourselves into keeping a resolution or judging ourselves for not being enough. But what if we approached the new year with grace instead of guilt? What if our goals came from a place of love and freedom rather than obligation?
It’s not about perfection. It’s about showing up, doing our best, and letting that be enough. And when we stumble (because we will), it’s about picking ourselves up without the weight of shame dragging us down.
4. Focus on Generating Good News
We live in a world saturated with bad news. It’s easy to feel helpless and hopeless when every headline screams chaos and catastrophe. But here’s the thing: We can create good news within ourselves. Through gratitude, kindness, and love, we generate a ripple effect that extends far beyond us.
One of my friends said, “When I generate good energy within myself, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It impacts the world around me in ways I may never see.” Imagine if more of us did that—if we trained ourselves to seek out the good, to celebrate it, and to share it.
5. Be Inspired, Not Imposed Upon
As we step into the new year, it’s tempting to let others dictate our goals or resolutions. But true inspiration comes from within. When we see someone doing something beautiful, we can let that inspire us rather than feeling pressured to replicate it. After all, what works for one person might not work for another. Your path is uniquely yours.
6. Cultivate Love and Connection
At the heart of it all is love—love for ourselves, for each other, and for this messy, imperfect world we inhabit. One friend shared a simple but profound idea: What if we spent the new year finding ways to show love? Whether it’s through small acts of kindness, listening deeply, or simply being present, love is what makes life meaningful.
As we discussed, love isn’t measured in spreadsheets or grand gestures. It’s in the effort, the intention, and the heart behind what we do.
It’s in spending six hours searching for a book a friend mentioned they’d love to read, not because it changes the world but because it expresses care.
A More Hopeful New Year?
This year, let’s approach the blank calendar with hope, not because we know what lies ahead, but because we know who we are and who we’re becoming. Let’s focus on gratitude, embrace uncertainty, and let love be our guide.
Here’s to a new year filled with learning, loving, and living with hope.
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Excited to announce the new weekly online course I’ll be co-hosting with artist/musician Angie Von Slaughter starting Wednesday, January 8th.
Are you a creative person who struggles to find new ideas? Or maybe you’ve got too many ideas but you just don’t know how to get started? This course is a Live Online Zoom call where we gather with other artists to explore creativity and share exercises and prompts to help us unlock our creativity together.
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The newest book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>
Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has appeared on CNN, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.”
He co-hosts The Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and his solo podcast, Second Cup With Keith which are both available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Podbean or wherever you find your podcast fix.
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