Keep Up The Momentum: How To Maintain Your New Year's Goals

Happy Lunar New Year!

Whether you started your New Year's goals on January 1st or today, February 17th, congratulations on believing in yourself and investing in your future! If your journey began on January 1st, how has it been? Did you jump right in, or did you experience a significant adjustment period? Have you found your rhythm, or is it still feeling a bit choppy and disorganized? Despite where you are, there are ways to support you on the road to a healthier, happier you.

First, let's talk about the Lunar New Year. I love appreciating the beautiful traditions of many cultures, and today I would like to honor and discuss how the Lunar New Year is celebrated, what it symbolizes, and how we can apply those principles to our goals and aspirations. According to the Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology, the Lunar or Chinese New Year is China's most important festival that "can be traced back to about 3,500 years ago!" Many days can be spent preparing for the momentous day; time is spent cleaning, paying off debts, decorating the home, and more. It is important that any laborious tasks be done before the new year, because it symbolizes being prepared to get rid of the old and welcome in the new and prosperous life that you want! I can see many ways that we can apply that logic to our goals. First, when we set our goals, have we fully let go of whatever was holding us back from achieving them? Consider if you are still holding onto any limiting beliefs or emotional baggage. There is no time like the present to leave the past behind and reach for your bright future!

One of the most popular legends of the Lunar New Year is about Nian (Year). This mythical beast was thought to eat "livestock, crops, and even people on the eve of a new year". In order to appease the beast, people began to leave food at their door for him, until an old man discovered that Nian was afraid of loud noises and the color red. This is why we see many red decorations and hear firecrackers going off for the new year. As I read about this rich history, I began to frame the traditions in a very empowering way for myself. Instead of entering the new year with fear and anxiety, with thoughts like, "What if this new year is filled with hardship and loss?", take charge and start preparing for it before it comes. You are not just wantonly trudging through your life, stumbling each time a circumstance comes your way. You get to set the tone for your new year, for your life. If you want a peaceful and successful year ahead, fearlessly plant the seeds early on and get ready to reap from them when the time comes.

Here at Healing Waves, we are always working with our clients to help them meet the goals they have set out for themselves. We move with intention and a belief that we can achieve so much together if we truly try. We would love to help you become a better you or help a loved one of yours reach their goals. Reach out for a free consultation to see if music therapy or music lessons are right for you.

Miss K