Planting Seeds & Growing into the New Year
Our Growth Story
As we enter the new year and begin our blogging journey, we wanted to share a few thoughts with you about the importance of compassionate growth and about how Garden Counseling & Wellness Group came to be.
Our growth story began in 2017 when our founder, Laurin Taylor, planted the seed that was a solo mental health practice. She nurtured that seed over the course of four years through weather and storm, and in 2021, the solo practice grew into a group practice! Since then, our team has flourished wonderfully (read about us here). Our practice name, Garden Counseling & Wellness Group, was selected to represent the growth that we hope to help others achieve and to establish within ourselves.
We share this story with you so that you can learn more about us and our story, and also to share the importance of planting seeds, nurturing them, and allowing them to grow in their own time.
The Pressure of the New Year
Often, at the start of a new year, there are both external and internal pressures for us to see and experience rapid-speed growth within ourselves.
We’re here to tell you that it’s ok if, on January 1st, you haven’t made a complete 180 change. It’s also ok if all your new year goals aren’t accomplished by February 1st, May 1st, or even December of next year.
The goal is to simply plant the seeds of change or growth that you would like to see within yourself (or merely nurture previously planted ones) and watch them grow throughout the months and years to come.
How To Grow into the New Year
There’s a good chance that you have been growing all along in significant ways. It’s essential to recognize your previous growth, reflect on it, and build upon it in the new year.
Ways to recognize and build upon previous growth:
Look back on previous goals to see if you have made any progress towards them- Remember, every step counts when working towards a goal, regardless of the outcome or the consistency. Even if you didn’t reach your goal, there’s still a lot to learn about yourself and what works/doesn’t work for you in that process.
Take time to notice your inner emotional growth- Oftentimes, we measure our goals and growth by external action and ignore the inner growth that is constantly happening within us. Inner growth can look like; a better understanding of yourself and your story, being kinder to yourself, and gaining clarity on what you want out of life.
Reassess your goals to see if they align with your current values- Sometimes, we find ourselves carrying over goals from previous years that no longer serve us or align with our path. Take some time to reflect on whether your goals are still aligned with your values, and ask yourself if any of your goals need to be let go of or modified.
Once you’ve done some reflecting on your past growth and goals, the next step is to start planning for the new year by creating realistic goals with self-compassion in mind.
Here are a few steps to take to be kind and honest with yourself as you plant your seeds and grow into the new year:
Be patient with yourself- Acknowledge that you are learning a new skill or developing a new habit and that it can take time (months, sometimes years) to see the fruits of your labor.
Remembering change is not linear- There may be weeks where you stick to your new habit or goal and then months where your efforts towards your goal are disrupted for one reason or another. You didn’t fail your goal just because you stopped doing it for a while, and it’s always ok to restart it again at any time.
Self-compassion is key- If/when your efforts towards your goal are disrupted, it can be helpful to have some reassuring affirmations to help yourself get back on track. Some of our favorites are:
“It’s ok that I didn’t complete my goal today. How can I ensure that I work on it sometime next week/month?”
“It was a rough week for me; what was most important was nourishing and taking care of myself so that I can resume focusing on my goals next week.”
“I still love me, even if I didn’t work on my goal today.”
Here are a few simple examples of how to be intentional about your goal planning in the new year:
Start by choosing your top three goals for the new year (You can add more later), and list three small steps you would need to take to accomplish those goals:
For example,
If your goal is to read more in the new year, you might:
First, decide if you want to read digital or paperback books
Choose 1-2 books to start your new year with
Decide on time(s) during your day and week that work best for reading
Or, if your goal is to go to bed earlier, your first three steps might be:
Notice if there are any barriers to going to sleep earlier (ex. Watching tv or scrolling through social media late into the evening)
Pre-decide how much time you would like to reserve for fun activities during your evening and what time you would like to spend winding down and preparing for bed.
List reasons why this goal is valuable to you so that you are more internally motivated to stick to it.
Or, if you would like to better understand your finances, your small steps may be to:
Begin following a reputable financial social media page or podcast to increase your financial literacy.
Create a comprehensive list of your financial responsibilities so you are clear on how much you spend throughout the month and year.
Find a financial advisor to consult with and help you better understand your unique financial situation.
Once you have completed your first three steps toward your goals, you can continue the process by adding three more small steps at a time until you have reached your ultimate goal.
Don’t forget to celebrate yourself and your progress
Celebrating the growth towards your goals can bring you joy, gratitude for your efforts, and motivation to continue growing!
Celebrating progress along the way can look like:
Reflecting and journalling about your efforts towards your goals on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Treating yourself to a small treat that is meaningful to you when you experience milestones towards your goals.
Cheer yourself on by saying or thinking affirmations like,
“I’m proud of myself for trying. I’m proud of myself for growing. I’ve got this!”
Growing Together
Remember, what’s most important is planting and tending to your seeds of personal growth, while being kind and tender towards yourself.
Stay tuned for more mental health and joyful living blog posts and tips from us this year! We will be releasing new blog posts every other Friday at 10AM.
We wish you happy and healthy growth in the new year and look forward to growing alongside you!