Finding Hope in the New Year

The New Year is always marked by a sense of energy and opportunity. The changing of the calendar year is an opportunity to embrace the spirit of renewal and take charge of our lives.

But where do you start? How do you mentally settle the echoes of the past so that you can fully embrace your vision for the future? How do you let go of the frustrations from the last year so that you can move forward with a renewed sense of being?

Here are a few strategies you can try:

1. Reflect Over Old Goals Left Unfinished

There’s no doubt that 2020 was (to say the least) incredibly difficult. Nobody anticipated the kinds of challenges they were going to face. Throwing out your day planner halfway through the year was probably an act of self-care, so there’s no shame if your goals fell by the wayside.

Why, then, should you bother to revisit your unmet goals? Largely, so that you can take stock of them and see if they still carry the same relevance to your world. If they do, they can be revived and revisited. 

If they no longer hold the same interest or value, you need to acknowledge your frustration and grief over the way the year went. The best way to move forward is by making peace with the past.

2. Celebrate Even the Smallest Accomplishments

Now, make a list of everything you achieved over the last year, no matter how small. If you made steps toward one of your bigger goals, write that down too -- even if you never hit your final target.

Maybe you used your spare time while social distancing this year to clean out the garage or remodel the bathroom. Maybe you picked up some new computer skills, wrote the first draft of a novel, or finally started cooking healthy meals at home. 

Acknowledge your gains over the past year, no matter how small or far removed from your original goals they may be. Looking backward over your accomplishments can fill you with a renewed sense of power that will take you into the new year.

3. Define Your New Goals

Now, sit down and think deeply about your life as it is and as you would have it become. How do you want to improve your career, your health, your finances, or your relationships with others? What skills do you want to learn? What habits do you want to change?

Once you have one or two goals in mind, work backward. What steps do you need to take to reach your goals? Are they realistic? Are you giving yourself enough time to meet them? Writing these down can provide meaningful focus as you start forward.

Final thoughts

If you’re still struggling to embrace your goals and find hope in the new year, you may benefit from counseling. Life coaching services can help you identify the steps you need to take to reach those goals, embrace your personal empowerment, and measure your progress as you go.

Counseling services in Michigan (Macomb County, Wayne County, and Oakland County) are just a click away. Book a session today using our convenient online form.