How to set goals in the new year: advice from psychologist Olga Khairulina
The beginning of a new year is traditionally associated with new plans and goals, but most holiday promises don't stand the test of time. Together with the psychologist of the Place of Power, Olga Khairulina, we will look at why this happens and how to set goals correctly to achieve what you want.
"In today's world, we often confuse our own desires with imposed trends from social networks", – notes the psychologist of the Place of Power – "Beautiful pictures on Instagram or TikTok form illusory goals that may actually be far from our true needs."
Every day we see hundreds of success stories, fashion trends, and “perfect” lives on social media. It makes us feel like these are the things that will make us happy, but is that really the case?
"If a desire doesn't excite you, it's worth asking yourself: is it perhaps imposed from outside? For example, buying fashionable clothes that don't really bring us pleasure", – adds Olga
How to feel authentic 🙌🏻
According to the psychologist, the key to understanding your own desires is the daily practice of mindfulness. "Keep a gratitude journal, write down what brought you joy today, what filled you with energy. When we analyze these records, it becomes obvious what is truly important to us", – recommends Olya.
This practice is especially useful at the end of the year. Recording helps us see which moments truly left a mark on our hearts, and which goals turned out to be just a fad.
"True desires do not fade away with time. If a dream does not let you go for a long period of time, it means that it is truly yours.", – explains the psychologist.
The main thing to remember is that goals can be set at any time, not just for the New Year. Changing desires is a natural process of growth and development, it is important to be flexible and listen to yourself along the way.
From dream to reality: the small steps method 👣
"The most common mistake is to set grandiose goals without intermediate stages. This causes irritation when we do not see rapid progress", – Olya shares her observations
Instead, she suggests breaking big goals down into smaller steps. This helps you see results faster and keeps you motivated. It’s important to add simple, achievable desires to your list alongside more ambitious ones. Every small victory is proof that you’re moving in the right direction.
“For example, if you want to start practicing yoga but are having resistance, start by researching teachers, choose the one you like the most, find out about prices, and sign up for a trial class. This step-by-step approach increases your chances of success.”
When a goal seems unattainable, our bodies react with stress and tension, which often leads to procrastination. The small steps method helps make the path to a dream more realistic and less anxiety-provoking.
Gratitude as the key to happiness 💫
The practice of gratitude becomes especially important - it helps us notice how many of our past desires have already come true, giving us strength and confidence for new achievements.
"The ability to appreciate what we have makes us happiest. We often forget that what seems ordinary today was once our dream."
In conclusion, Olga emphasizes that it is the ability to appreciate every step on the path to a dream that makes us truly happy and motivated to move forward.
"Dreams help us move forward! It's also important to be able to praise ourselves, celebrate small victories, and be grateful for every step", – concludes the psychologist.
