Setting Intentional Goals with a Therapist in Plymouth, MN 55446

Written by Masters Intern Therapist, Isabel Meyer-Mueller

If your media consumption is anything like mine, the New Year brought a barrage of advertisements for diets promising weight loss, supplements for flawless skin, journals that optimize focus and workflow, and new clothes and accessories to make you look “new and improved” for 2023. It seems that everyone is starting a juice cleanse or participating in “Dry January” in an effort to get in touch with a new, healthier version of themselves. Keep reading to find out tips for living a better life from someone knowledgeable about substance abuse therapy in MN!

Image of a group of people on their phones. If your media consumption has been making you feel overwhelmed read this blog from an expert in Substance Abuse Therapy in Plymouth, MN!

The start of 2023 is inevitably a new beginning, and with that often comes a desire to change, improve, or transform. The fact is nothing is wrong with this mentality; however, it can be challenging to discern your hopes and dreams for the upcoming year when there is strong societal messaging about what you should want. The New Year has become a target for marketing ploys and deeply toxic health habits, like detox teas, highly restrictive diets, and weight loss challenges.

While I am disappointed that the New Year has been co-opted as a time to buy new products and change ourselves to fit society’s ideals, I believe this can be a fantastic time for reflection and intention. It is important to discover what type of reflection fits best for you and your lifestyle, whether it is setting goals or resolutions, creating an intention, inviting in specific energy, or practicing gratitude. In this blog, I will provide some tips for setting goals/resolutions and creating an intention for your year; however, I would encourage you to pursue whatever type of reflection feels best for you at this time.

SMART Goals to Set in Plymouth, MN and Beyond

There has been significant research done on goal setting and the most effective ways to write goals. One of the most well-regarded goal-setting techniques is SMART goals. The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. This simple framework may be important to keep in mind if you are trying to make goals that you will be able to stick to all year long. Let’s dive into what a SMART goal looks like.

Image of 5 diverse women. Representing the five SMART goals this expert in Substance Abuse Therapy in Plymouth, MN shares in this blog!

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to ensure that your goals are S.M.A.R.T:

Specific

What specific area am I trying to change? Do I know what am I trying to achieve? What is motivating this change? How will this change occur? For example, “I want to be happier” is too vague. Instead, try “I want to spend time with my friends twice a week to help increase my happiness.”

Measurable

How will I know that I am making progress toward my goal? What benchmarks can I include to know I am moving toward the finish line? By quantifying your goal in some way, you are making it much easier to track your progress.

Attainable

Do I have control over this goal? Will I need to rely on other people in order to succeed in this goal? One goal that I hear a lot is wanting to start a relationship with a partner; however, that requires the buy-in of another person and may not be attainable. Instead, think about what you have power over. Perhaps a smarter goal would be to join a community sports team in order to meet new people.

Realistic

Is this goal reasonable based on my resources and levels of motivation? It might not be realistic to go from never exercising to running a marathon in three months. Perhaps creating the goal of running a 5k would be a more realistic place to start.

Timely

When would I like this goal to be completed? How much time do I need to finish this goal? Depending on the goal, it could be a few days or a few months, but it is important to include some type of timeframe in order to help you stay on track.

If New Year’s resolutions are your favorite type of reflection, I would encourage you to consider the SMART framework in order to increase the likelihood that you will be able to achieve your goals. The first step in accomplishing your goal is to set yourself up for success by writing a smart goal.

Setting Your Intentions: “How To” with a Plymouth, MN Therapist

Cup of tea with napkin that says "Mind full or mindful?" Read more about how to set your intentions from an expert in Substance Abuse Therapy in Plymouth, MN.

Some might think that having a mantra for 2023 or inviting specific energies into the New Year feels a bit too out there. Changing our reality with the power of thought, or “manifesting” as it is commonly referred to, has become a popular practice and suggestion from influencers and celebrities, but it is typically rooted in pseudoscience and nonsensical ideas. Some manifesters have taken scientific research and extrapolated it until it is no longer recognizable. I don’t blame you for being skeptical. I believe what we think has the power to change our behavior and lives is rooted in science.
In fact, that is the point of therapy!
By setting an intention for your year, you are picking something to keep at the forefront of your mind. Maybe that is a word like joy, connection, growth, or peace. Whatever it is, it may start to color how you interpret different circumstances throughout the year. Research indicates that when you are clouded by negative emotions, you are more likely to interpret neutral situations as negative. Similarly, when the idea of joy is top of mind, you are more likely to identify joyful aspects of your current circumstance. It is challenging to change the way you think. It requires you to build new synaptic connections in your brain. Intention setting becomes easier to integrate into your daily interactions the more you practice it.

Other Ways to Ring in The New Year

As I mentioned previously, there is no one-size fits all approach to reflection in the new year. Maybe intention setting and goals aren’t your style. Maybe it is writing down the best moments of 2022 and things you are most looking forward to in 2023. Or perhaps it is calling a friend to reminisce about a shared experience in the past year. Maybe it is creating a ritual or tradition related to this season of the year. I recommend that you use this time to reflect in the way that feels most powerful for you.

Ready to Start Reaching Your Goals With Help From a Therapist in Plymouth, MN?

Getting an appointment with Plymouth, MN, therapy office is simple and easy. Our team provides you with the tools you need to help you figure out how to live your best life!