Gwyneth Paltrow is embracing a fresh start for the new year, adopting a mindset of “out with the old, in with the new” as 2025 approaches.
On Sunday, the Goop founder took to Instagram to share a reflective newsletter post highlighting what she’s “letting go” of in preparation for the new year, alongside a glimpse into her 2025 goals.
In a year marked by “a bunch of goodbyes,” Paltrow opened up about her challenges, including becoming an empty nester and cutting ties with “people who were not right” for her.
In the December 29 post, Paltrow revealed how a numerology reading prompted her to reflect on a “year of completions and endings.” She shared, “I had a few very strong lessons around completing certain things. I had a bunch of goodbyes this year. I had some revelations that led to the ends of things.”
The Shakespeare in Love star admitted that letting go was often a difficult process. “Sometimes those endings have been really painful and have come with big change and recalibrations,” she wrote.
“I’ve learned to loosen my grip on things and deeply learn to let go. And also to understand that everything is always happening for your highest good, even if it’s super uncomfortable.”
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Goodbyes
Paltrow shared a slide featuring herself in a blue dress with the caption, “This year I let go of…” before delving into a list of eight things she bid farewell to in 2024.
Among these were setting boundaries with “some people who were not right for me,” abandoning “the idea that I can correct misperceptions,” and “believing self-limiting beliefs” (though she noted she’s “still working” on the latter).
Gwyneth Paltrow
Some goodbyes carried a more bittersweet tone. Paltrow revealed she had also left behind “the phase of life where everyone is always under one roof,” referencing her now-college-aged children, Apple, 20, and Moses, 18.
She also said goodbye to “our home,” “some very cherished colleagues,” “Los Angeles,” and “a dog” over the past year.
While Paltrow didn’t specify who she had distanced herself from, she has previously spoken about coping with “waves of grief and sadness” as her children began college. Moses recently started at Brown University, while Apple is in her third year at Vanderbilt.
Navigating Life as an Empty Nester
Despite the challenges of adjusting to an empty home, Paltrow shared that she is rediscovering parts of herself she hadn’t connected with since her 20s, before becoming a parent.
In an Instagram Story earlier this year, she explained, “A little more space, more imagination, maybe? A little more inner space for what I might want to do that day, stuff like that. So, it’s evolving. It’s interesting.”
Looking Ahead to 2025
As she turns the page on 2024, Paltrow shared her aspirations for the new year in her post. Among her goals are to “feel better” and “crush it at work.”
She also outlined more personal resolutions, such as continuing to “have tough conversations,” “continuously reassess everything,” “look at things in a new way,” and “surprise myself.”
With these reflections and goals in mind, Paltrow is clearly ready to face 2025 with an open heart and a focus on personal growth.
