How to Plan for Success in a New Year

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by Paris Dancy |

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The beginning of a new year is always a good time to think about ways to improve our self-care.

As a counselor, when I first meet with clients during a counseling or coaching session, I ask about their biggest strengths and weaknesses. Although it may seem like a simple question, there’s actually a lot of depth to it.

I can tell if people have a good understanding of themselves or not. Many have difficulty answering, and a common response is: “I don’t like to talk about myself.” I’ll ask why, but rarely receive an answer.

Although they might not be dealing with a health issue, the structure and discipline are the same when we are trying to improve ourselves and our well-being.

I’ll usually explain why the question is important if we want to make changes in our lives.

For me, it’s always important to plan and set personal and professional goals. Following are some of my suggestions about how to get started, whether you are dealing with Cushing’s disease or you just want to make changes in your life.

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When I was dealing with health issues associated with a pituitary tumor and Cushing’s disease, I struggled with the symptoms of weight gain, a lack of focus and concentration, joint pain, a deterioration of my body, a loss of muscle mass, sleep issues, a low libido, headaches, mood swings, and the loss of my hair.

These symptoms were constant thorns in my side. Before I was able to start making any progress and set goals for myself, I needed to be stabilized. Most people who have this condition, or suspect they do, will experience some if not all of these symptoms and possibly more. If you do, please see a medical professional who has experience dealing with this condition so that they can get you stabilized.

Be forewarned, it won’t be an overnight process and could take some time to identify the root cause of an issue. It could be a pituitary tumor, the adrenal gland not functioning properly, medication side effects, or other factors.

Once you are stable, meaning that symptoms have been reduced or stressors have been eliminated, start setting personal or professional goals for yourself. Everyone has different goals they want to achieve, but make sure they are realistic for where you currently are in life.

One goal I don’t recommend for anyone is “to return to how I was” or “go back to whom I used to be.” The reason for not setting this type of goal is to prevent you from setting yourself up for failure. After experiencing traumatic events, you will never be the same person again, so let your goals focus on the person you are now, and who you will be in the future.

Lastly, once the previous pillars are established, you should be in maintenance mode. This means that your foundation has been established, you start to see progress in the goals you want to accomplish, and you have a steady regimen that is working for you.

Whether you have been dealing with difficult times or just want to reconstruct your life, make sure to plan for your success this year.

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Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.

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