Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick

I spent this week reflecting on 2024 and planning for 2025.

2024 in a nutshell:

• Regular reading (failed)
• Self-publish a book (failed)
• Achieve a specific weight (failed)
• Go on dates (achieved)
• Staycation with family (failed)
• Computer break on Sundays (achieved, unless work-related)
• Monthly 3-day water fast (achieved)
• Savings target (miserably failed)
• Social media growth (failed)
• Speaking business (failed)
• Sing a specific song comfortably (achieved)
• Represent God on social media (failed)
• Bible study with my brother (failed)

I succeeded in 4 goals: dating, fasting, limiting screen time, and singing a specific song.

The rest? Missed entirely.

At some point, I stopped tracking my goals, which led to losing focus.

While tracking doesn't guarantee success, losing heart killed it.

For 2025, it's about consistency. I've set up a personalized goal system in Notion and Google Calendar, tracking yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily objectives.

Derek Sivers, in a Ted talk, said sharing your goals could trick your brain into feeling it's already achieved. In 2024, I kept most goals private and failed.

But the goals I succeeded in? Those I shared with others.

So for 2025, I'm sharing my goals (without getting specific) and committing to a year-end review.

Because I'm tired of facing another disappointing year-end.

For 2025:

Mental:

• Regular reading habit

Physical:

• Regulate sleep
• Regular exercise

Relational:

• Network & go on dates

Material/Professional:

• Improve personal branding on social media
• Increase savings
• Complete ACLP
• Resume trading
• Build my own community

Spiritual:

• Regular prayer walks

Recreational:

• Master 4 specific songs
• Travel with friends/family

I will #KeepTryingUntil I achieve these goals, knowing that while hope deferred makes the heart sick, the verse doesn't end there...

"A Longing Fulfilled Is A Tree Of Life."