It is not another email about goals setting for the New Year
I don’t want to be yet another voice in your inbox talking about goal setting and forward planning for the New Year, even though I emphasized the importance of it in my prior newsletter. I imagine you’re already seeing plenty of those messages across social media, and let’s be honest—they can feel a bit redundant and tiresome. At least, that's how it seems to me.
So, for this newsletter, let’s take a different approach, both for your sake and mine.
While recognizing the fact that our goals and aspirations are of undeniable importance, something that matters even more is our energy and state of mind.
Have you ever had to make a significant decision during a time of distress? As an example, many of us have at some point in our lives experienced dissatisfaction in our careers, feeling desperate for change. This sense of desperation can be good if it generates a genuine desire for change, but it can also lead to rash decisions. Maybe we fail to realize we are just in a tough, but temporary, spot in the moment, leading us to quit a job we actually, for the most part, like. Or it leads us to grasp for any "better" opportunities to escape the current turmoil, but which we later realize aren’t any “better” at all.
Or consider personal relationships, such as finding a life partner. Do you think you’ll make wiser choices in a state of desperation, or when you are calm, have invested in your well-being, and radiate energy that naturally attracts others?
As we think about the upcoming year and setting meaningful goals, it's essential to first work to achieve a mindset that supports such clarity and purpose, which, in turn, will enable the possibility of making sound decisions.
How can you find this place of peace?
Start by expressing gratitude for the past year—for all it has brought you, the experiences you’ve had, the people you’ve met, and the growth you’ve achieved. Reflect on these moments and appreciate them.
Spend the final weeks of the year engaging in activities that bring you joy. Whether it's taking a leisurely stroll through your favorite parts of the city, getting lost in a novel, playing the piano, writing, attending a Pilates class, or baking a pie—do what makes you happy.
So instead of spending the final weeks of the year reviewing what was or wasn’t accomplished, focus on nurturing your energy. Cultivate peace for the year that's wrapping up, acknowledging that everything that happened—good or bad—served a purpose. Allow yourself to bring peace to yourself.
As we usher in the New Year, do so with tranquility, ready to meet your goals with a refreshed spirit and a steady heart.
