Welcome to 2025: Will Regret Follow You This Year?

Think about it—would we even be here today if our ancestors hadn’t taken action? Some Neanderthal sitting in a cold, fireless cave could have worried about predators or freezing to death, but you and I are here because they chose to act. They didn’t wait for certainty—they stepped into the unknown and did what was necessary to survive.

As we step into 2025, many of us have spent the last few weeks reflecting on how this year will be different. We set goals, make plans, but too often let them slip away. When we fail to act, regret takes hold, quietly shaping our lives and stifling our growth.

David Whyte, in his essay on Regret, captures this feeling perfectly:

"Regret is a short, evocative, and achingly beautiful word; an elegy to lost possibilities even in its brief annunciation."

This post was inspired by Tim Ferriss's podcast episode #781, where he interviews poet David Whyte. Their conversation delves into themes of regret, action, and the human experience, offering profound insights that resonate deeply with the challenges we face as we enter 2025.

Sadly, this post was also inspired via >150+ coaching inquires and direct request for help from individuals over the past 24 months who chose not to responded to attempts to answer their questions or their direct appeals/request for help (despite offering complimentary coaching sessions and a sliding scale option).

Regret isn’t just about the past—it’s about recognizing missed opportunities in the present. Here’s the truth: worry and fear feed inaction, but action destroys them.

Consider this:

• Over 80% of gym memberships go unused after January.

• Many professionals attend networking events but fail to follow up, missing valuable opportunities.

• How often have you avoided reaching out to someone who could help you grow?

• Or thought about starting something meaningful but stayed in your comfort zone?

• In relationships, how many fleeting smiles or conversations could have led to something meaningful but were left unspoken?

Worry didn’t save our ancestors, and it won’t save us now.

Action is the only way forward.

Will 2025 be the year you break free from regret and take bold, intentional action?

Or will it be another year where hesitation keeps you stuck?

The choice is yours; not choosing and failing to act is a very clear choice.

Think of it this way: that ancestor sitting in a dark, freezing cave without food may have worried about predators or freezing to death. But you and I are here because they chose to live in the present and act. Worry didn’t save them—action did.

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About Me

I’m a professional coach dedicated to helping individuals break through barriers and achieve meaningful growth in their personal and professional lives. Insights and breakthroughs are all around us—we just have to look to see them. For me, one of those pivotal insights has come from the poetry and wisdom of David Whyte. Since being given a cassette tape of his work in 1995 (yes, a cassette tape—some of you might not even know what that is!), I’ve returned to his writing and spoken word countless times for inspiration.

If you’re ready to move forward and explore how coaching can help you take that next step, visit sprkcoaching.com to learn more.