RIPPLE EFFECTS

The New Year often arrives with an overwhelming sense of expectation. From media messages about resolutions and detoxes to well-meaning friends asking about your “big plans for 2025,” the pressure to start fresh can feel suffocating. When you finally share your frustration, the advice is often the same: “Just take it one step at a time.”

But what if you don’t even know where to begin? What if starting feels impossible?

Here’s the truth: the first step isn’t always about action—it’s about reframing what a “start” looks like. It doesn’t have to be a grand new beginning. Maybe it’s an “and,” an “or,” a continuation, a pause, or a pivot—not a reinvention.

If you’re stuck, here’s a simple way to cut through the noise: grab a pen and paper. Not your phone, not your computer—something physical and tangible. Write a single word, a thought, a feeling. Let the ink flow and see where it takes you.

You don’t need a perfect plan to move forward. The real first step is giving yourself permission to begin where you are—messy, unsure, or even scared. Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. Trust that even the smallest beginnings hold the power to change everything.

With purpose,
Impact&Agency