Set Meaningful Intentions, Boost Accountability, and Embrace Personal Reflection for a Transformative New Year
Traditions and rituals are important. Not just for creating healthy habits, but for cultivating mindfulness as well. This ritual of naming my year is something I’ve shared with friends for over two decades. Sometimes the name arrives months ahead of time, and sometimes not until January 1st, but I always give each year a name.
The name serves several purposes, although it’s mainly a tool for setting my intentions. Instead of traditional New Year’s resolutions, I reflect on the shape I’d like the coming year to take, jot down my goals, and choose a pseudonym that neatly captures my hopes and dreams. Below are some of my past “year names,” including recent ones:
- 2025 – (TBD)
- 2024 – Year of the King of Happiness
- 2023 – Year of Dream Caterpillars And Manifest Butterflies
- 2022 – Year of Magical Mr. Mifsud
- 2021 – Year of Walking With Giants
- 2020 – Year of the Helping Hand
- 2019 – Year of Reflective Shadows
- 2018 – Year of the Wild Monk
- 2017 – Year of the Vibrant Nesting Doll
- 2016 – Year of the Unchained Heart
- 2015 – Year of the Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty
- 2014 – Year of the Grinning Tiger
- 2013 – Year of the Golden Butterfly
- 2012 – Year of Roots
- 2011 – Year of Awesome
- 2010 – Year of Nobody Fucks with a Lion
In the Year of the Grinning Tiger, for instance, I was moving to India and wanted to focus on cultivating happiness. In the Year of the Wild Monk, my goals revolved around daily meditation and taking bold leaps of faith. For the Year of the Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty, well — that one speaks for itself: I wanted to approach life with colorful, creative energy!
Once I choose my name, I share it with friends—this is my way of creating accountability. There are several ways you can do this, but I like to reach out to a group of close buddies. Over time, our monthly check-ins have become a support system that inspires us and keeps us focused. As we all know, good habits beget good habits.
I also practice monthly reflections on my year’s name and purpose. At the end of each month, I do a quick recap of my progress to see if I’m sticking to the spirit of my chosen name. If I’m falling short, I try to figure out why. Do I need help or motivation? Were my goals too simple or too ambitious? If I didn’t have the right resources, can I pivot and seek them out?
It’s important to stay open to how life often unfolds in ways we never predict. The name I choose might end up revealing a new aspect of itself over the course of the year. Take 2020, for example. I initially expected to be the helping hand in the “Year of the Helping Hand,” but as the pandemic unfolded, it was people everywhere extending help on a global scale. My name was still fitting, but its interpretation had to evolve.
So, as we move into 2025, I encourage you to name your own year. Make it creative, meaningful, and personal. See what a simple ritual like this can bring to your life. Share what you name your year in the Comments, and let me know if you have any New Year rituals of your own!
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