By Anna Ram
As we enter a new year, many countries are undergoing significant political and social changes. For those who it is hard to stay optimistic about the uncertainty of the new realities, it is a necessity to always keep in check your priorities and focus on those; to decrease the mental overload that can lead to emotional distress.
How Did We Get Here?
Chaos hit the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. The world slowed down completely and simultaneously we transitioned to the dependency of digital technologies. As we moved past the fear and chaos of the pandemic, Artificial Intelligence (AI) took over rapidly, pushing us into the fast-paced digital era in a way of no return. How we can slow down?
How to Keep Peace of Mind in the Midst of Chaos?
Chaos is created by external and internal factors. If we focus on the right perception and use healthy ways to cope, we can handle stress and not feel overwhelmed. It’s important to look after our thoughts and our self-talk.. and its feeders. Our strong human spirit helps us “survive” difficult situations, allowing us to face challenges and grow stronger by being adaptable, solving problems, and nurturing emotional strength with a hopeful mindset.
How can we live a meaningful life and set a path for a brighter future?
We should aim to “thrive” by stepping out of “survival mode” by fostering a mindset and environment that promotes growth, well-being, and satisfaction. In other words, we must embrace the psychology of change, which encompasses resilience, healthy coping mechanisms, growth mindset, emotional regulation, and support systems to respond to and navigate change.
Three Important Steps to Get Out of the “Survival Mode”
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go accompanied.” ~ African Proverb
- Don’t go alone: A great start for this transformation process is to seek professional support to gain emotional strength. A therapist, a psychologist, a mental health counselor, and even your spiritual leader, are supports that can assist you in this process, in their own capacity. The wise African Proverb highlights the value of collaboration and teamwork, and the importance of community and collective effort to achieve long-term goals.
- Set your goals: A key element in this process is SMART goal setting. Setting clear and achievable goals will shift your focus from simply “surviving” to actively and strategically pursuing your personal growth and aspirations.
- Develop skills: Focus on developing skills for the effective regulation of emotions, achieve mindfulness, interpersonal efficacy, and resilience to emotional distress.
Resolutions: Most New Year’s resolutions often don’t last. A resolution is a broad commitment to change a behavior or habit, often made at the beginning of a new year because we notice that something needs to be changed in us or through us.
Goals: A goal is a specific, measurable, attainable, reliable effort that one commits to achieve within a certain time limit, with action steps for short and long term.
In essence, resolutions are general intentions, while goals are concrete objectives. Here, “the magical wand” doesn’t work. We can wish or dream big as it is fun and part of our creativity, but results are never guaranteed, if we do not put the work.
What Do We Need to Achieve Our Goals?
Embracing Change
We need these very specific steps to embrace change:
- Strategic Planning: We need to create a clear and actionable plan; a plan is only effective if implemented.
- Actionable Plan: It serve us to take action and not leave it only on paper. This actionable plan involves: motivation (self-motivation and external motivation,) responsibility, self-reflection, commitment, accountability to others, transparency to ourselves, and even professional and social support.
You may say, “This sounds like a lot of work.” Yes. You’re right, because it is work, but does not have to be that hard. Starting up requires effort and discipline to change our routines and create a new habit. Habits grow daily, as we give continuity, because we are aiming for a lasting change in ourselves, not just in specific goals or situations. Goals are temporary but the change we seek stays as they have created in us new growth and new skills.
I wouldn’t ask my clients to do things I haven’t done myself. I know it is possible to reach desired goals. Last year, one of my goals was to improve my knowledge, both personally and professionally. Another goal was to manage my weight for a healthier lifestyle. I accomplished both. I acquired more professional experiences and also lost 18 pounds and intend to loose more until reaching healthier levels. But I understand that continuity is a must.
This year, I have many goals, including writing and publishing a book by the end of the year, if possible. I am open to flexibility in timing if needed. But I am writing constantly for that goal. Also, there are some traveling in perspective. For now, I’m focusing on Transformational Grace, which is about improving my relationships and working on myself to achieve my goals, this year. My main goal for a meaningful life is to grow spiritually.
Spirituality is about finding meaning and purpose in connection with God. Is measured on how we live out our faith in daily life. It encompasses various dimensions, including beliefs, practices, and experiences that help us grow that relationship as we understand our role in the world. In “This is a New Day” my role is to combine Psychology, Christian Theology, and Coaching approaches that result in lasting positive effects in you, and in organizations.
What is Transformational Grace and What it Does?
What Is Transformational Grace? In Christian Theology, Transformational Grace refers to the influence of God’s Spirit in a person’s life, leading to deep healing and clear change from within. Grace is God’s unmerited love and favor towards people, which not only forgives sins but also supports personal and spiritual growth in a complete way. This approach looks at the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) and acknowledges how all parts of their well-being are connected.
What transformational grace, concretely does in the sphere of counseling?
- Facilitates spiritual growth: Deepens relationship with God and unlocks vocation and purpose.
- Promotes healing: Helps overcome past traumas and negative patterns.
- Improves resilience: Instills hope and strength to face life’s challenges.
- Strengthens relationships: Encourages compassion, understanding and harmony for healthier relations, releasing the power of forgiveness.
- Guides personal development: It inspires the alignment of goals with values for a fulfilling life.
- Transcendence: It has eternal repercussions that go beyond our present life.
Self-reflection is important. This year, reflect in your life. Do introspection. While introspection can be challenging, it is vital. I do it constantly. Reflect on your relationship with God, and with others, too. Prioritizing spiritual growth in the pursuit of our life’s accomplishments is the cornerstone for overall success and a fulfilling life.
Why We Should Reflect?
- It is Essential for Growth: Understanding the “self” (self-knowledge) and its relationships is crucial for meaningful development and learning. Self-reflection is a powerful tool that allows us to examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions, increasing our self-awareness. Yes, we stop…to observe and pay attention to ourselves in a conscious way.
- It Helps to Navigate Life Complexities: Improves our decision making and problem solving, help us to process our emotions as we learn self-regulation. Strengthens our relationships. Self-reflection builds resilience, makes us feel motivated and focus in our goal setting, and does much more.
Let me contribute to your journey as you draft a better plan for your life. Don’t hesitate to receive assistance, and companionship in your discovery. Write me an e-mail to: info@thisisanewday.org Happy New Year!
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