In the iconic 1993 film, Groundhog Day takes place at the beginning of February—specifically, on 02/02. The plot revolves around the main character reliving the same day over and over again. While at first, he is fascinated by this strange phenomenon, over time, he begins to sink into frustration and a sense of burnout. No matter what he does, nothing brings him the results he desires, and he wakes up each morning with the crushing realization that everything will play out exactly the same way again. And while this comedy may seem lighthearted and entertaining on the surface, if we look at it from the right perspective, it actually reflects something many of us experience. If you've ever felt like you're stuck in your own personal Groundhog Day, trapped in a loop you can't break free from, then this is for you.
(Note: This text will reference Groundhog Day to explain certain concepts, so there will be spoilers! If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend watching it before reading further.)
We all have our ambitions—big or small. Many of us use the symbolic fresh start of a New Year to set resolutions that are meant to bring us closer to our goals. But more often than not, this turns into an excuse—we create mythical "perfect conditions" for taking action, giving ourselves a reason to postpone starting immediately. We want to make changes, but something deep inside us holds us back from making real progress.
The life we currently live is familiar to us, and that familiarity creates a false sense of comfort and security. Humans adapt quickly to their circumstances, no matter what they are, and stepping outside of that comfort zone—where we've already settled—feels daunting. Especially when we don’t know what lies ahead or whether our efforts will even be worth it. So, more often than not, we choose to do nothing.
Phil: What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?
Ralph: That about sums it up for me.
It doesn’t matter whether we set New Year’s as the time to implement a new life plan or tell ourselves, “I’ll start on Monday.” The effect is the same—we feel better for a brief moment because we have the intention to do something. That alone eases our guilt about not having started yet. There are also those who bravely begin following their plan in pursuit of a goal, only to eventually slip back into old habits. Just like Phil, the protagonist of Groundhog Day—we either keep repeating the same day over and over or we try to make changes, take on different challenges, yet in the long run, we don’t actually get anywhere because of who we are inside.
Rita: Maybe it's not a curse. It just depends on how you look at it.
The words “I have to” and “I want to” make a huge difference in how we approach things. Sure, for some, a sense of obligation and self-discipline works—setting goals based on “I have to do this”. But in most cases, it only leads to frustration or subconscious resistance. Compare that to framing our goals with “I want to”, which expresses intention rather than obligation. When we take action, we shouldn’t focus on forcing ourselves through it—because the more we push, the more resistance we create. And that will only keep us from getting where we truly want to be.
Our minds crave specific, measurable goals—something we can neatly fit into an Excel spreadsheet. But intention is different. It reflects our deeper needs and what we genuinely want to do. When we set goals, we often fixate on the final result, which can make us feel like we’re not progressing fast enough or, worse, make the goal seem impossible. That’s not for me. I’m not strong enough to go through all that. Sound familiar? With intention, however, we focus on the direction we want to move in and how we want to feel along the way.
I hope this makes sense. The point isn’t to struggle, force things, or make life harder for yourself. The desire to change should come from a better understanding of your true needs and setting an intention that aligns with them. Just like in the movie—Phil only broke free from the cycle when he got his thoughts in order and focused on what he genuinely wanted to do, what needs he actually wanted to fulfill. Instead of the bitter and cynical guy we meet at the beginning, by the end, we see a happy man who has found himself and started living according to what truly matters to him. And that’s what I wish for you, too.
Remember, as Ned Ryerson told Phil: “Watch out for that first step. It's a doozy!” You’ve tried before and ended up stepping into a puddle. Now it’s time to learn from that, shift your perspective, and finally leap over that first obstacle on your way to fulfilling your real needs.
So, what do you say? Time to wake up from this daze?
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