A New Year Overview

By Johnnie Geathers, MSW, LSW

When we are in the beginning phases of a new year, we question what to do next in our journey of life. The popular phrase that we all hear in January is, “New Year, New Me.” When hearing this phrase, you have to ask yourself, what do you consider to be new? Most of the time when the phrase “New Year, New Me” comes about, we set goals and do all the things in preparation to meet our target. We do the vision boards, the goals list, and we may tell our friends all about it, so they can hold us accountable. After a few months, we either fall off or return to old habits. Sometimes, this happens due to lack of motivation, timing, and being realistic with setting our goals. It is not uncommon for us to follow trends we see on social media, to keep up with the “in crowd.” In the beginning of the year, a lot of us are encouraged to do something new and fresh. A burst of energy comes from wanting to try something different. It’s like a start over in life. In the beginning, we see growth and potential. After a few attempts of trying it, we lose focus because the motivation is gone. For example, going to the gym is a common trend in January. We get excited and tell people about our epiphany in working out. There is always that desire to get the body nice and tight for the summer. After a month of going to the gym, one day is missed because and that’s when it starts to go downhill. Your motivation is lost because you don’t see the progress happen quick enough for you. That is why timing is key when we want to change or start a good habit. At the start of the new year, we think about everything that we want to accomplish. Starting something is only the beginning, we have to stay consistent and for many of us, it’s hard when you have to let go of some bad habits, for example, going to the gym is one thing, but changing your eating habits is another. This requires consistency, patience and time. Whenever things do not go as planned, we make an excuse to say that we do not have time. The reason why we don’t have time for the things we want to accomplish in the new year is because we don’t prioritize the time to make it work. There are many trends that come and go every season. When the trend is popular on social media such as on Tik Tok, we all want to hop on to be in with everyone. What normally happens when a

trend is not happening anymore? We end up waiting for the next trend. With our goals, we have to not fall into a trend because everyone else is doing it. You can see if you are capable and holding yourself accountable by sticking with it. Have you thought about goals that you didn’t get to finish or put on the back burner? This year make it different and revisit what you started and stopped. This time evaluate what worked or what needs to change. After making the changes, your goal can be new for you for 2023. No one will have to know that it is an old goal. Only you will know and it will be new for you to master for the year. Here are some encouraging statements to help you this year. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail: there are moments Keep on trying and never give up on it. Don’t Try to Fit In: do things that you love to

Be Open to Change: if you need to change something on what you want to accomplish, accept it, and continue with your goal. No Need to Be Perfect: perfectionism will kick in for most of us. We have to realize that mistakes, mishaps, setbacks, and other things will happen, and it is okay. Those moments will lead us to where we want to accomplish for the year. Setting goals does not have to be daunting. And you don’t necessarily have to start them at the beginning of the year like everyone else. Be sure they are realistic yet challenging. Sometimes making short-term goals can help you get closer to long-term goals. Also be sure to celebrate small victories. If you didn’t eat takeout and brought your lunch to work for a day, congratulate yourself on that. Those small wins lead to bigger victories.

About Johnnie Geathers MSW, LSW:

Johnnie Geathers is a Licensed Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist for Familylinks, Inc. and Hand in Hand Counseling Services, LLC. For Familylinks, he works with children in a therapeutic classroom environment under Pittsburgh Public Schools providing individual and group therapy. For Hand in Hand Counseling Services, he provides individual therapy to different populations from children to adults. Johnnie’s personality and passion for helping others make him go above and beyond to help the clients under his care. Johnnie takes a stand to help others outside of his work environment by participating in different speaking engagements, podcast interviews, published articles in Helpful Living Magazine, and through his work of “JG Mental Health Fridays,” which are video segments that he does on social media and on YouTube, discussing topics that affect everyone and providing coping exercises for individuals to practice on their own time. Johnnie is a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. He has received numerous honors for his work in the profession as well as with his fraternity such as the 2020 Pitt Social Work Rising Star Alumni Award, 2022 New Pittsburgh Courier FAB 40 Award, and 2022 Leader Alumni Achievement Award from Penn State Black Alumni Reunion. He is a member of the Pitt Social Work Alumni Advisory Board and a board member for the JaQuan Lavender Foundation. To connect with Johnnie you can follow him on these platforms FB: Johnnie R.M. Geathers Twitter: IotaMastermind1 IG: jgthemastermind LinkedIn: Johnnie Geathers, MSW, LSW and website: jgeathers122.wixsite.com/jgeathers