‘The Story of 2024 Starts with a Reflective and Compassionate Pause’

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By the Trauma-Informed Systems Integration team

With the turn of the page from one year to the next, a common question we ask ourselves and others is “what is your resolution?” For some, the new year can be the kickstart needed to implement desired change. For others, this can feel like pressure and an exercise in futility. And, for someone who has experienced trauma, this experience may be even more complex.

If you endured trauma and experience lingering impacts, such as a push to overly control or a sense of not being able to control, have compassion for yourself.

While you can’t undo the past or control everything around you, you can:

  1. Experience healing, especially through safe, stable and nurturing relationships.

  2. Identify and prioritize making SMART goals.

  3. Set boundaries that help you to feel safe, achieve balance and promote your resilience.

Greater success can be achieved through reflecting and being gentle, compassionate and honest with oneself before setting SMART goals as the blueprint for any desired action.

As you write the 366 (leap year!) pages in the story of 2024, make time, periodically, to pause and reflect. Recognize, honor, and take pride in the skills, strengths, supports and determination that have helped you to survive and thrive, not just in 2023, but throughout your life and as this new chapter unfolds.

As you plan the year ahead, consider the following:

  • What changes, if any, are truly needed and will serve you in achieving personal, professional, health, spiritual and other goals?

  • Should you continue pursuing a past goal?

  • Should you set your sights on a new endeavor?

  • Should you check off those “one-and-done” items that seem to linger on your to-do list?

Reflect on the costs and benefits to making a change and not making a change. Be flexible and reassess as you and your life story evolve. Tap into available trainings, offerings through the County’s Employee Wellness Program (like produce shipped to your home), and/or benefits of the Employee Assistance Program.  And, most importantly, connect with your people, the support needed when starting something new or simply carrying on.

Whatever your story, be sure to periodically take that key step in determining what you truly want and need…a reflective and compassionate pause. 

Want to learn more? Here are several articles and resources that can help you start 2024: