R.E.S.E.T. — Recognize, Expose, Surrender, Encourage, Timing
One of the most powerful—often overlooked—ways to transform your life is by RESETTING your mindset. Shifting our thought habits, perceiving challenges, and creating proactive responses cultivate personal growth and lasting change. As the new year approaches, it’s a time of new beginnings and possibilities. It is all in how we set our mind – being intentional – bears fruit.
Personally, every January, I implement a detox of body, mind, and spirit. I commit to the first 40 days of the new year to recognize things I need to rid myself of, cleanse my body and mind, and prepare myself to launch into tremendous success. The first 40 days are powerful, creating a precise, dedicated time for profound, focused transformation. Forty days is a significant symbolic period in many cultures and philosophies, representing purification and preparation for a new beginning.
What does it mean to RESET?
When we experience chaos or stress, it is time to rest or change habit patterns. A RESET digs deep and is intentional about starting again to feel stability and achieve growth.
Recognize
Acknowledge the need for rest and change, then commit to achieving it. Recognizing where you are helps you assess what needs to shift. Recognizing your own need for change commits to reset purposefully.
Expose
Unearth the root causes of your stress or limiting beliefs. By exposing these issues, you’re consciously clearing the space for transformation.
Surrender
Letting go of control over things beyond your reach and focusing on what you can control—your thoughts, actions, and responses—is a step in surrender. It is about taking responsibility and releasing the need to manipulate every outcome. Surrender is about peace—finding stability in accepting uncertainty.
Encourage
Self-compassion and motivation coexist. Nurturing yourself through the process is vital, especially during challenging moments. Remind yourself of your progress, not your pace. Continued movement, not speed, is needed.
Timing
Intentional time management is essential for continued momentum. This routine will measure your progress, constantly recenter and refocus you in moments of high stress and keep you on track. Remember to give yourself grace and be flexible to make needed adjustments.
RESET Mind, Body, and Spirit:
- Mind: Clearing or shifting negative thought patterns begins with journaling or meditation. Focus on removing negativity and replacing it with empowering affirmations or new thought patterns.
- Body: Fasting, healthy eating, or exercising isn’t just about cleansing physically but also about connecting to your body and making it a source of strength and vitality for the year ahead.
- Spirit: Reflection, prayer, or spiritual practices reset your intentions and reconnect you with what brings you peace and joy.
This RESET plan is a holistic approach to growth, focusing on profound transformation from within. Thus, it creates a solid foundation for lasting success and happiness. When you commit to recognizing, exposing, surrendering, encouraging, and timing your journey, you make space for a new year and a new version of yourself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Goodson, MA, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor with an office in Winter Haven, FL, a Professor of Psychology at Warner University in Lake Wales, FL, and a transformational speaker. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For more information, visit www.pathwaycounselingservice.com.