From Stuck to Soaring

I don’t know about you, but for the longest time, I was in a fog. Not the sleepy “I stayed up too late watching home renovation videos” kind of fog (though, guilty). I mean a heavy, heart-sinking kind of mental haze. I was going through the motions—wake up, work, scroll, sleep, repeat—feeling completely untethered from my own life.

I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. I had goals once, I think. But they were buried under burnout, people-pleasing, and the ever-growing weight of “shoulds.”

I should have it all together by now.

I should be more grateful.

I should be able to push through this.

Except I couldn’t. Not alone.

And that’s when I stumbled across New Life Counseling.

Honestly? I wasn’t even searching for therapy. I was just scrolling, hoping for something that made me feel seen. And there it was—this website that didn’t feel clinical or cold, but warm. Human. Hopeful. Rooted in faith, but not forceful. It talked about whole-person wellness. About mind, body, and spirit. It said, “We’ll meet you where you are, and walk with you to where you want to be.”

And I felt this flicker of… possibility.

Therapy, but Make It Holistic

I clicked deeper and realized New Life Counseling wasn’t your average therapy center. Located in Iowa, yes—but reaching hearts far beyond that. Their approach isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about transforming your whole life.

From the start, I noticed something different. Their clinicians aren’t just trained in psychology or counseling—they’ve got experts in nutrition, marriage and family therapy, medication management, and more. It’s like assembling a team of gentle, wise, soul-whispering Avengers, each there to help you piece your life back together in the most personal way.

They offer counseling for individuals, teens, couples, and families. And they don’t just sit you down, ask “how does that make you feel,” and scribble notes. They teach. They coach. They host workshops and webinars on topics like anxiety, depression, and even ADHD nutrition. They believe healing is learning. Healing is action. Healing is possible.

And the best part? It’s all offered in a faith-based but inclusive environment. Meaning: If your spiritual life is important to you, they honor that. If you’re unsure where you stand? They welcome you, too. No judgment. Just grace.

The Goal Setting Workbook That Changed My Life

I’ll be honest. I didn’t book a session right away.

Because sometimes what you need first isn’t a deep dive into your trauma—it’s just one tiny, practical step in the right direction. Something gentle and manageable to help you start.

That’s where the New Life Goal Setting Workbook came in.

It popped up as I was browsing their site, and I immediately clicked. I mean—“goal setting” sounded so straightforward. But as I read through the description, I realized this wasn’t your average planner filled with empty clichés like “Dream Big!” or “You’ve Got This!”

This was real. Reflective. Rooted in values. And—drumroll please—only $9.99.

It wasn’t flashy, but it felt sacred, like a quiet place to land and re-orient my life.

So, I downloaded it.

Printed it.

And sat on the floor with a cup of tea, a pen, and my wildly messy heart.

Page by Page: What This Workbook Actually Did for Me

Let me paint a picture for you. The first few pages didn’t ask me to list 100 goals or visualize a five-year plan. Nope.

They asked me to pause.

To reflect.

To look back before trying to rush forward.

There were prompts about my past—what I’ve survived, what I’ve learned, what I might want to carry with me, and what I’m ready to let go of. It didn’t feel like homework. It felt like a conversation with a wiser, kinder version of myself.

Then came the values section. It asked: What matters to you? Like really, truly matters?

And I sat with that for a long time. Because I realized I’d been chasing goals that weren’t even mine. Hustling for approval. Striving to be “productive” instead of purposeful.

This workbook didn’t just help me create goals.

It helped me create goals that actually felt like me.

From there, it helped me break those goals down—step by step. It guided me through turning vague dreams into tiny, doable actions. It helped me track progress without perfectionism. And perhaps most importantly, it built in space to adjust when life inevitably shifted.

And let me tell you—when you write down your goals in your own handwriting, aligned with your values, surrounded by faith and intention? Something sacred happens.

You stop waiting for permission to live the life you want.

You start building it.

Not Just a Workbook—A Whole System of Support

After using the workbook for a few weeks, I finally felt ready to take a deeper step. I booked my first virtual session with a counselor from New Life.

Because here’s what I realized: I didn’t have to choose between therapy and self-help. Between spiritual guidance and practical tools. Between mental health support and lifestyle coaching.

New Life Counseling offers all of it.

They’re not just there for when things are falling apart. They’re there to help you grow. To help you figure out how to love your life again. To help you heal what’s wounded and nurture what’s possible.

And once you’re part of their community, you’re not just a name on a chart.

You’re a person. With dreams. And they care.

They offer community classes, group sessions, nutrition education, and even consulting for businesses or ministries. Through their founder, Dr. Don Gilbert, they bring coaching, speaking, and leadership training into the mix, too.

In short? They’re not just a counseling center.

They’re a movement of whole-person transformation.

This Isn’t Just My Story, It Could Be Yours Too

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wow, I need that… but I’m scared, I get it.”

It’s vulnerable to want something better for yourself.

It’s tender to hope again.

But I promise—there is no shame in starting small.

You can begin with a workbook. One page, one prompt, one quiet moment.

You can start with a goal. One that’s tiny but true.

You can send an email. Book a call. Ask for help.

And whether you’re a stay-at-home mom who’s lost herself in routines…

A college student overwhelmed by pressure and comparison…

A pastor, a teacher, a nurse, a human just trying to keep it all together…

There’s room for you here.

New Life Counseling sees you.

And they’ve built something beautiful to help you rise.

So, What’s Next?

Here’s what I suggest:

1.         Download the Goal Setting Workbook

It’s only $9.99, and honestly, it’s worth ten times that. This is your soft place to land. Your tool to reset. Your quiet nudge toward clarity.

2.         Visit New Life Counseling’s Website

Whether you’re in Iowa or just needing resources from afar, take a look. Read their blog. Explore their services. Follow that little flicker of hope.

3.         Let yourself dream again

What if healing is possible? What if you’re not broken—just burdened? And what if everything could begin to change… today?

A Love Letter to You, Reader

If you feel stuck, tired, or lost, please hear this:

You are not too far gone.

You are not behind.

You do not need to have it all figured out.

You are allowed to begin.

And New Life Counseling—through their compassionate care, their faith-rooted values, their holistic approach, and yes, their beautifully designed workbook—can walk with you as you take those first brave steps.

This is your sign.

To get curious.

To get honest.

To get going.

The life you want isn’t as far away as it feels.

And sometimes, it starts with a printed PDF, a quiet cup of tea, and the decision to try again.

Let’s go.