Rebranding Yourself for the New Year
Crafting a helpful New Year's resolution
The 2025 World Series was inspiring. Two storied teams faced off, and throughout the series, certain players rose to the moment when it mattered most. One of them was Will Smith of the Dodgers, whose steady performance culminated in a dramatic, game-changing home run.
With another priest in the community, I joked that Will Smith had done a remarkable job of “rebranding” himself. Not long ago, the name Will Smith was associated with a very public scandal in the movie world. Now, at least in our playful imagination, the same name belonged to a baseball hero. The comparison is imperfect, but it is suggestive.
Reflecting on the Past Year
As the old year comes to an end and we begin thinking about New Year’s resolutions, many of us are tempted by the idea of rebranding ourselves: becoming a better version, a cleaner image, a fresh start. But the Christian question goes deeper than rebranding. God is not interested in a new label; He desires a new heart (cf. Ez. 36:26). The Gospel does not promise better marketing–it offers conversion.
So, as we stand on the threshold of a new year, the real question is not how we will reinvent ourselves, but whether we will allow God to remake us. With that said, here are some practical steps to reflect on the past year and make a resolution for the New Year that will help you.
What advice would you give to yourself a year ago? Is there something you regret from this year? What are you proud of? All of these ideas can help start the creative juices flowing and give you some perspective to appreciate what is most important in your life currently.
Choosing a Realistic Resolution
Imagine watching your life as a movie. What advice would you shout at the screen? Maybe there is a relationship that needs to be cut off or seriously modified. Are there health issues you need to address? What could you do in a year that would make this upcoming year a success?
Substitution, Not Addition
Think of something you could do for the next year, that you would really do. We all know that many people who begin a New Year’s resolution don’t carry through for very long. One thing to recognize is that motivation and willpower are very different things. Many of our spontaneous resolutions imply a lot of willpower. We might be able to do it for a while, but soon our willpower wears out and we fall back into the same bad habits we were trying to eliminate. Because of this aspect of willpower and limited resources, our resolution needs to be reasonable. Normally, if we are going to add something, we need to also cut something out.
So often, it is better to change something or substitute one thing for another, rather than just come up with a list of things we want to add.
If I recognize that I spend 20 minutes scrolling on my phone at the beginning of the day, I decide to dedicate those 20 minutes to Scripture study and prayer instead. I am changing one habit (and perhaps one I am not too happy about) for another habit I had been wanting to begin for some time now.
It is good to frame our resolutions in a positive way. We want to work on motivation, and not merely try to get more out of ourselves, which requires willpower. What habits could you change that would make you happier at the end of next year? Identify one thing you can change. There is always the temptation to come up with a list, but working clearly on one goal can be tremendously beneficial.
Review Questions
How has the past year gone?
What were the top 5 highlights?
What were the 3 biggest lows?
What did I learn?
What were the biggest wins in how I organized my time?
Are there behaviors I need to make into habits?
Who are the people who influenced me the most? What does this tell me about myself and what should I do with this information?
What was something I hoped to get done this year, that I failed to complete?
Does this need to be a goal for this upcoming year? How can I set myself up for success?
What are the big time-wasters in my life?
How can I cut these out?
How have my priorities and goals shifted over the last year?
Do I have my priorities and goals identified?
Do my day-to-day activities match my goals and priorities?
Take some time to remember the year. What are your biggest memories from last year?
Best surprise:
Best meal:
Coolest new experience:
Favorite weekend:
Favorite new person:
Favorite new city:
Favorite new friend:
Most intense week:
Favorite artist:
Favorite song:
Favorite quote:
Planning for the Future
Think about what can help you set clear priorities and goals moving forward?
What could I do this year to make my future self miserable? (Don’t do that)
What could I do this year to make future me proud?
What would a good daily routine look like?
What would I like to be more productive in?
What do I need to cut out?
What conversations do I need to have?
What is one thing that if this happens, your next year will be a success?
Come up with your resolution and take it to prayer. The fact that we begin the year with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, allows us to take our New Year’s resolution to Mass. A good resolution is not the one that excites you the most, but the one you will actually live.
Summary
· Do an annual review.
· Identify one thing you can change to improve your life.
· Substitute; don’t add.
· Frame the resolutions positively.
I would love to read your New Year’s resolutions.