Join Mikel, Bella & Friends for a Special Warriors for Life (WFL) TONIGHT - "A Look Back & A Look Ahead!"
- Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
- 11 hours ago
- 8 min read
Drop in TONIGHT with Volunteer and Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs for "Burly's Warriors" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).
We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.
TONIGHT's Topic: "A Look Back & A Look Ahead!"
Join Mikel, Bella & Friends for "SPECIAL" Warriors for Life (WFL) "Burly's Warriors!" edition TONIGHT as we discuss the mental health importance of looking back on 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. We hope you will all join us tonight as we reflect and look forward.
Reflecting on 2025 and planning for 2026 regarding mental health is crucial for
identifying personal triggers, assessing coping mechanisms, and setting realistic, value-driven goals. This process aids in dismantling negative patterns, fostering self-compassion, and preparing for emerging challenges like AI privacy risks and workplace stress.
Importance of Looking Back at 2025
Identify Triggers and Coping Mechanisms: Reflecting allows individuals to determine which habits helped or hurt their mental health, when they felt most balanced, and what specific challenges arose.
Compassionate Review: It is important to view 2025 with curiosity rather than harsh self-judgment, treating the review as a way to understand one's journey.
Highlighting Gaps in Care: Looking back helps recognize barriers to support, such as high costs, stigma, or difficulty finding the right therapist.
Recognizing Growth: It enables individuals to acknowledge how far they have come, which builds confidence for the year ahead.
Importance of Looking Ahead to 2026
Setting Realistic Goals: Using the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), individuals can set actionable mental health goals for 2026, such as prioritizing therapy or managing stress.
Proactive Management: Anticipating trends like the use of AI for mental support helps individuals prepare for new risks, such as privacy and data misuse.
Addressing Modern Stressors: Planning for 2026 involves preparing for evolving pressures, including digital isolation, climate anxiety, and workplace burnout.
Prioritizing Self-Care: Setting intentions for 2026 ensures that mental well-being is not sidelined, which is necessary for long-term success in personal and professional life.
By combining a, compassionate 2025 debrief with, proactive 2026 planning, individuals can break cycles of struggle and take intentional steps toward better mental health.
Do a compassionate 2025 debrief (not a self‑roasting)
Before you race into goals for 2026, pause and look back at 2025 – gently.
Most of us do one of two unhelpful things:
Avoid thinking about the year altogether (“Glad that’s over, don’t want to talk about it”)
Rerun the lowlights in our head while calling ourselves useless, weak or lazy
Neither helps your mental health.
Here’s how to do a simple, compassionate debrief.
Step 1: Name the big themes of your year
Grab a notebook or notes app and jot down:
3 things that were genuinely hard in 2025
3 things you’re proud you got through (even if you didn’t handle them perfectly)
3 things that kept you going (people, routines, places, beliefs, jokes, music)
Examples might be:
“Cost-of-living pressure, constant under‑staffing at work, and a breakup blindsided me.”
“I kept showing up for my kids, I helped a friend through a rough patch, I stayed off the pokies even when stressed.”
“Daily walk with the dog, weekly call with my sister, going to the beach.”
This process does three important things:
Validates your stress – “No wonder I was struggling.”
Highlights strengths – persistence, courage, kindness, not just “failures”.
Shows what actually supported your mental health – your personal “protective factors”.
Beyond Blue’s Wellbeing Action Tool encourages people to identify the small things that already help, then build on them – exactly what you’re doing here.
Step 2: Rewrite the story you’re telling yourself
Our brains love harsh, simplistic stories:
“I’m hopeless with money.”
“I can’t handle conflict.”
“I stuffed up 2025.”
Ask:
What else is true here?
What did this teach me?
How did I cope, given the circumstances?
For example:
“I made some expensive mistakes, and I was dealing with rent rises and bills that went through the roof.”
“I didn’t handle that argument well, and I was already burnt out and running on no sleep.”
You’re not excusing harmful behaviour – you’re moving from self‑attack to self‑understanding, which is linked with lower depression and better recovery after setbacks in self‑compassion research.
Step 3: Decide what you’re bringing and what you’re leaving
Now divide your reflections into two lists:
Bring into 2026: habits, people, mindsets that helped
Leave in 2025 (or dial right down): patterns that drained you
For example:
Bring: morning walk, Sunday phone call with Mum, saying “no” to extra shifts when you’re exhausted
Leave: doomscrolling at midnight, always being the one who organises everything, saying yes to every family request
You’ve just taken a core psychology strategy – reflective meaning-making – and turned it into a decision tool. That’s your first mental health reset.
Proactive 2026 Planning
As we look toward the future and set our intentions for 2026, it’s crucial to take a step back and reflect on what truly matters. While personal growth, career success, and achieving milestones are important, the foundation of it all is mental health. Prioritizing our emotional well-being is not just a trend—it’s a necessity.
Setting realistic goals and focusing on mental health go hand-in-hand, especially in a world that constantly demands more from us. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, or the aftermath of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or simply trying to navigate the daily pressures of life, it’s important to approach your goals with compassion, self-awareness, and a commitment to support your mental health.
The Importance of Mental Health in Achieving Goals
When mental health takes a backseat, achieving any kind of success—be it personal, professional, or relational—becomes a far more daunting task. Mental health conditions like anxiety and stress can interfere with your ability to focus, make decisions, and stay motivated. This is why, as you set goals for 2026, it’s important to factor in your mental health needs alongside your career or personal aspirations.
Setting Realistic Goals: A Balanced Approach
Too often, we set ourselves up for failure by aiming for goals that are either too lofty or disconnected from our well-being. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of being more, doing more, and achieving more. However, realistic goals—those that align with your current abilities, resources, and mental health status—are key to long-term success and fulfillment.
Here’s how to set achievable goals for 2026 while prioritizing your mental health:
Start Small and Build Momentum
Rather than overloading yourself with big, daunting goals, break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Whether it’s committing to therapy, making time for self-care, or working toward a career advancement, each small win boosts your confidence and keeps you motivated.
Be Realistic About Your Limits
Recognize that your mental health needs may fluctuate throughout the year. Some days will be better than others, and that’s okay. By being realistic about what you can achieve given your mental health and personal circumstances, you reduce the risk of burnout and frustration.
Incorporate Self-Care into Your Routine
Goals aren’t just about career achievements. They should also include self-care and nurturing your mental health. Scheduling regular therapy sessions, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in physical activities that reduce stress (like yoga or nature walks) are integral to maintaining balance in your life.
Prioritize Emotional Well-being
Take time to address any unresolved emotional issues, such as those stemming from trauma or anxiety. It’s important to understand that mental health is not a barrier to success—it’s part of the foundation upon which all other goals can be achieved. If you’re dealing with PTSD or persistent anxiety, seeking psychotherapy or counseling can help you process past experiences, learn coping strategies, and feel more confident moving forward.
The Benefits of Seeking Support: Why Therapy is Essential
Many people still hesitate to seek support, either due to stigma or the belief that they should be able to handle their mental health struggles alone. However, the truth is that seeking professional support—whether through counseling, psychotherapy, or a support group—can be life-changing.
Some key benefits of seeking mental health support include:
Building Coping Mechanisms for Stress and Anxiety
Therapy helps you develop healthier ways to cope with everyday stress and anxiety. By learning techniques like cognitive-behavioral strategies or mindfulness exercises, you’ll be better equipped to manage challenges and stay focused on your goals.
Understanding and Healing from Trauma
For those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), therapy offers a safe space to process and heal from past trauma. Working with a trained professional can help you navigate the emotional pain of trauma, enabling you to reclaim your life and move forward with greater clarity and strength.
Improved Emotional Resilience
Therapy strengthens your emotional resilience, making it easier to bounce back from setbacks. By learning how to regulate your emotions and respond thoughtfully to challenges, you can handle difficult situations with more grace and poise.
Personal Growth and Self-Awareness
Regular counseling or therapy helps you better understand yourself—your values, triggers, fears, and desires. This self-awareness allows you to set goals that are more aligned with your true self and supports your overall well-being.
Enhanced Relationships
By addressing your mental health and learning to communicate better, therapy can improve your relationships with friends, family, and coworkers. The skills you learn in therapy can help you build stronger, more empathetic connections with others.
A Call to Action for 2026: Invest in Your Mental Health
As you look ahead to 2026, take a moment to reassess your approach to setting goals. While it’s natural to have ambitions for career growth, financial stability, and personal achievements, make sure to balance those goals with a deep commitment to your mental health. Whether through psychotherapy, counseling, or simply making time for rest and self-care, investing in your mental health will not only improve your well-being but also enhance your ability to achieve whatever goals you set for the year ahead.
Remember, mental health is not a luxury—it’s the foundation for everything you do. So, as you plan for 2026, set realistic, attainable goals that consider your emotional well-being. Your mental health is worth prioritizing, and with the right support, you can create a fulfilling and successful year.
Take Action Now
If you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, or PTSD, don’t hesitate to seek mental health support. With the right help, you can manage your mental health and work toward a brighter, healthier future. Looking to start mental health therapy? Our team members are available and specialize in areas that matter most to you. Whether it’s stress management, trauma recovery, or improving emotional well-being, support is available to help you meet your 2026 goals with strength and clarity.
Our Vision at Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is simple: "Where Hope, Support, and Healing come together!"
We encourage you to join us, Everyone is Welcome, Everyone Matters, You Matter to Us, so Talk to Us! — invite a friend!
Warriors for Life (WFL) Peer Support Network Online "Burly's Warriors" edition, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — (TONIGHT), December 27, 2025 @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87197441247
Remember: Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) meets on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — (7-days) a week. Every week stay connected on Friday Mornings with "Coffee with Kim" and Monday Mornings for "Cup O' Joe" with Derrick at 8:00 AM CT.
“Everyone Matters, Talk to Us!"— Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs
Thank you,
Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs
Founder & Volunteer Facilitator, Warriors for Life (WFL), & CEO, Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV)