Why Your New Year Goals Die by February (and the 3-Step Reset That Actually Works) Season 5 Ep 12
By February, most goals aren’t dead because you’re lazy—
they’re dead because your plan required a version of you that never gets tired.
If January had you confident… and now you feel behind, ashamed, or tempted to quit—this episode will change how you set goals forever.
Virginia Dale Manning, LPC-S sits down with Michelle Ruiz Deal, LPC-S to expose the real reason resolutions fail:
• You’re trying to “fix yourself” without fixing the system around you.
• You set goals from pressure, not purpose.
• You planned for your “motivated self”… but never prepared for your overwhelmed self.
We’re talking about the moment motivation disappears—the stressful mornings, the emotional eating, the doom scrolling, the “I’ll start Monday” loop—and what to do instead.
What you’ll learn (real-life, no-fluff):
• The 3 hidden “February killers” that sabotage your goals (even when you want change)
• How shame quietly turns “a setback” into “I failed”
• A simple reset plan that works even if you’re busy, tired, or inconsistent
• The mindset shift that makes progress feel lighter—not like punishment
What to do instead (the GTMH “February Reset”):
1) Shrink the goal (make it so small you can do it on a hard day)
2) Anchor it to something you already do daily (coffee, brushing teeth, commute)
3) Protect it with a “Plan B” version for low-energy days (because life happens)
If you’ve been watching silently… if you’re waiting until life calms down… if you’re thinking, “I’ll subscribe when I’m consistent,” hear me: this channel is for your real life—messy, busy, healing, and still moving forward.
Subscribe now so you don’t have to rebuild motivation alone. Turn on notifications—because your next reset might be the one that changes everything.
Share this with the strong friend who’s secretly struggling.
Comment: What’s the one resolution you’re tired of restarting—and what usually knocks you off track?
#GTMH #GirlTalkMentalHealth #MentalHealthTips #HabitBuilding #GoalSetting #WomenOver35 #HighFunctioning #StressManagement #SelfImprovementJourney #TherapyTools #EmotionalWellness #MindsetShift #NewYearGoals #BurnoutRecovery #ChristianWomen
More About Michelle Ruiz Deal, LPC-S
Michelle Ruiz Deal believes therapy is a transformative space where individuals reclaim their agency, voice, and power. As a mental health practice owner and clinical director with eight years of experience, she approaches every session with warmth and curiosity, honoring each client’s story as the foundation for self-discovery and intentional living.
Ms. Ruiz Deal specializes in helping clients navigate complex life challenges, including anxiety, OCD, and mood disorders. Her clinical focus is on restoring a sense of choice and autonomy for those managing multifaceted presentations, such as the intersection of OCD, eating disorders, or Bipolar Disorder.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, she is dedicated to helping clients shift from feeling overwhelmed by symptoms to feeling empowered by their own capacity for change.
With a unique dual perspective as both a veteran and a veteran spouse, Ms. Ruiz Deal brings a deep, personal understanding of the military and first responder communities.
As a frequent and sought-after public speaker, she takes this mission beyond the clinic, actively challenging mental health stereotypes and dismantling stigmas. Her presentations focus on the strength inherent in the human spirit and the collective power of communities when they prioritize restoration and mental well-being.
Her practice is grounded in providing clients with the tools they need to navigate their internal worlds with confidence. She utilizes proven, gold-standard protocols designed to return control to the individual.
Ultimately, Ms. Ruiz Deal is committed to guiding her clients toward profound clarity and courage.
More About Virginia Dale Manning, LPC-S
A voice of FAITH for the strong but silently struggling.
Virginia Dale Manning, LPC-S is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 18 combined years of experience in education and mental health therapy. She is the CEO of GinMan Consulting and Counseling Associates, PC, a therapeutic corporation and the founder of Girl Talk Mental Health Show, a show that empowers and impacts conversations about mental health by exploring healthy ways to manage stats, stereotypes, stigmas and societal norms about mental health while addressing the 8 dimensions of wellness.
As a 4x author, she passionately motivates, inspires, guides and supports others to live their best life. Her latest riveting trauma memoir, Set Apart: The Journey to Find Hope in Times of Shame. Loneliness and Death is available on Amazon.
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