Goals with a soul: healing as the foundation-rethinking those New Year's resolutions
It’s the New Year, and we all know what that means—on the other side of a holiday that makes us eat too much, drink too much, buy too much, be far more social than we want to be…etc. it’s customary to go through this cycle of wanting to reconsider our actions and take a new and different approach. New Year is like that; it’s a fresh blank slate and gives us the opportunity to try again at the life we want to build. At New Year, it's customary to set goals and resolutions, often focusing on external achievements like financial success, physical fitness, or new relationships. But what if, this year, the most transformative resolution you could make was to prioritize healing? Yes, healing.
If the foundation of your goals is a place of hurt, seeking affirmation, or trying to fill a void, then no amount of external achievements will bring true fulfillment. This blog post explores why healing should be at the top of your New Year's list, not as a catchy marketing phrase, but as a genuine path to a more meaningful life.
The Empty Promise of External Goals
Imagine building a house on a shaky foundation. No matter how beautiful it looks, it won't stand firm against the storms. Similarly, when we set goals from a place of internal hurt, they're like that house—vulnerable and unstable. You might strive for more money, a new body, or a relationship, thinking these will fill the void or prove your worth. But, like a desolate mansion, they offer space without solace, quantity without quality. They are the 'new year - new you' resolutions sold to us as quick fixes, whether through a gym membership, a self-help book, or wellness supplements.
The Stealing of Joy: Unhealed Wounds
Beneath the surface of every unchecked ambition lies a deeper narrative. Perhaps it's the belief that you're not enough, that you were different, smarter, better, faster, thinner, prettier, you would get the love, affirmation and worth you want—that you would feel good, finally. These unhealed wounds are joy thieves. They lurk in the shadows of every accomplishment, whispering that it's never enough, that you're never enough. No matter how many goals you set and achieve, if they're built on this foundation of hurt, they will crumble, leaving you feeling emptier with every conquest.
*note: this is not everyone’s circumstance, but it is better to rule it out than to go without.
Healing: The Work That Transforms
Healing is not a one-off task or a box to be checked. It's an ongoing journey of confronting and dismantling those limiting beliefs that hold you back. It's about recognizing your inherent worthiness and learning to operate from this place of value, not lack. Healing involves deep, sometimes difficult work. It might mean therapy, meditation, journaling, or any practice that helps you process and grow. But this work is transformative. It's the kind of renovation that not only patches up the cracks but also strengthens the entire structure.
Goals with Soul: From a Place of Worthiness
When your goals stem from a place of healed and recognized worthiness, they take on a new dimension. They become Goals with Soul — aspirations that resonate with the truest parts of you. These are goals not dictated by society or by past traumas but born from a place of self-love, self-worth and understanding. They are not about proving anything to anyone; they are about expressing and living your best, most authentic life.
Last Bite:
As you jot down your resolutions for the New Year, consider starting with healing. It's neither the path of least resistance nor the most glamorous. It won't promise instant gratification or a quick fix. But healing is the most profound and rewarding journey you can embark on. It will not only change the way you view your goals but also transform the way you live your life. This year, let the revolution be internal. Let it be about becoming whole, recognizing your worth, and setting goals from this place of completeness. Here's to a year of healing, growth, and goals that truly mean something.
