Published: January 14, 2025

Grace in Growth: Finding Balance in a New Year

The commitment we make to ourselves ultimately enhances the care we provide to our patients and the impact we have on our profession.


Troy D. Woodard, MD AAO-HNS/F PresidentTroy D. Woodard, MD
AAO-HNS/F President
The start of a new year often inspires us to reflect on the past and set goals for the future. As we welcome 2025, I find myself revisiting my journey through 2024, a year I dedicated to my health. Mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being all took center stage as I worked to align the pieces of myself that had long been neglected.

Although I celebrated some meaningful successes, I also faced challenges and outright failures. Like many of you, I am a perfectionist, driven to achieve ambitious goals. However, life, with its unpredictability, often reminds us that the path to growth is rarely linear. As I reflect on my experiences, I realize that these challenges were not roadblocks but lessons, shaping me for the future.

This brings me to a simple yet powerful truth: grace. We often extend grace to others, but how often do we offer it to ourselves? Resolutions may falter, goals may take longer to achieve, and sometimes we must start over. That is okay. Progress is a journey, not a destination.

As we step further into 2025, I encourage all of us, whether in our personal or professional lives, to embrace resolutions rooted in reflection, intention, and self-compassion. Here are a few guiding principles to help us grow while giving ourselves the grace to try again.

1. Reflect Before You Resolve

Before setting new goals, take time to acknowledge the lessons of the past year. Celebrate your wins, but also explore the setbacks. What worked? What didn’t? Understanding these experiences is key to setting meaningful, achievable resolutions.

2. Prioritize Well-Being

As otolaryngologists, we dedicate our lives to improving the health of others. The pressure of our profession often leaves little room for self-care. This year, let’s commit to prioritizing our own well-being too. Whether it’s protecting time for family, hitting the gym more often, or saying “No” to avoid overcommitment, let’s create space for balance. When we take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to take care of others.

3. Set Clear, Achievable Goals

Just as we plan for the good outcomes in our surgeries, we must also set clear, measurable goals in our personal and professional development. Instead of vague resolutions like, “Be a better surgeon,” or “Improve work-life balance,” break these down into specific, actionable steps such as completing a specialized course or scheduling a weekly personal activity. Clear goals are easier to track and help maintain focus over time.

4. Give Yourself Grace: Permission to Reset

Missed a workout? Forgot to follow up on a goal? Said something that you shouldn’t have? That’s okay. Resolutions don’t have to be all-or-nothing. Grant yourself the grace to start fresh. Every new day offers another opportunity to grow.

5. Pursue Passion with Purpose

This year, make time for the things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Passion fuels perseverance and reminds us why we do what we do.

As we continue to embark on this new year, let us remember that resolutions are not just about achieving perfection. They are about striving for progress, learning from missteps, giving yourself grace, and trying again. Each small step we take, each lesson we learn, brings us closer to becoming the best version of ourselves. The commitment we make to ourselves ultimately enhances the care we provide to our patients and the impact we have on our profession. Here’s to a year of growth, grace, and meaningful resolutions.

Listen: True North with AAO-HNS/F President Troy D. Woodard, MD

Updated Ep5 Woodard 1400x1400 Internal GraphicIn a recent episode of Voices of Otolaryngology, Rahul K. Shah, MD, MBA, talks with Academy President Troy D. Woodard, MD, with lots of laughs and good conversation, on a number of topics from his own personal journey to otolaryngology and how he is dedicated to clearing that path for the next generation to his philosophical approach to balance, inclusion, mentorship, and wellness. The duo also discuss why the Academy plays an essential role in the success of the specialty and the year ahead with a review of the Academy’s strategic plan at the forefront of priorities. Watch on YouTube or listen to the podcast


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