2022 is upon us! However, 2021 certainly did not leave without a fight. Last year brought
nationwide levels of instability due to government unrest and a pandemic that had no end in
sight. A year later and many are experiencing a sense of Déjà v, “2020 is that you again?”
With levels of fear and apprehension increasing as Covid cases rise, it might be hard to think
any farther than staying safe each day.
The New Year is often ushered in with endless adverts for products that promise to help us
shed the old and embrace brighter and shinier versions of ourselves. And as reliable as the
onslaught of commercials for gym discounts and coupons for the newest slimshake, is the
question “So what are your New Year resolutions?”
If the pressure to compete with your past self felt exhausting before, how much more
unbearable does it feel now after a year of lockdowns, restrictions, being estranged from loved
ones, Zoom University, and carving out an office space in a houseful of kids? On top of
everything else, do we really need to tack on “losing 10lbs” to the list?
We at Haven Mental Health Counseling understand the pressure that comes with the
expectation for the new year as a time to make big lifestyle changes. But what if we took a
different approach and exchanged “self-improvement” for “self-care?”
Take a deep breath, and see how that word feels in your body.
Release the fear of “measuring up” and embrace the warmth of “filling up” with what makes you
feel safe and enough.
A healthier you begins with a healthier mind and way of thinking.
Creating lasting change and habits that serve you begin with taking a look at your chronic
problems that do not necessarily have easy fixes. The baggage of last year will not magically
disappear when the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve and a commitment to losing pounds will
not necessarily help you lose grief, emotional burdens, or ongoing conflicts within your life.
Imagine a year of Zoom University without depression, or ending a long day of at-home office
meetings without blowing up at your kids. What if you could get through the winter without using
food for comfort and reduce the dread that comes at the thought of exercise? Could this year
bring an improved relationship with your spouse or even in-laws?
The counselors at Haven MHC are ready to help you discover what it means to be mentally
well, no matter what lies in the months ahead. This new year, although circumstances may feel
familiar, does not have to provoke the same old reactions and coping strategies you have
utilized in the past. We may not believe in the magic of a ball drop, but we do believe in the
resolve of a person that has had enough with the way things were and wants to work towards
something new.
This New Year you can simply resolve to no longer face your problems feeling alone and to
intentionally practice self-care, perhaps for the first time ever!
With encouragement, accountability, and support, goals that felt impossible in the past- like
improved sleep and overall mood- can become your reality! If you could actually stick to your
new year’s resolution this time around, what would you want to change? Click here for a free
consultation and let’s find out together.