2026 New Year’s Goals for Scam Survivors

Happy New Year, and it is Time for New Goals

The new year offers a powerful symbolic reset, a moment to draw a line in the sand and declare an intention for the future. For those navigating the long and winding Yellow Brick Road of emotional recovery from your scam, this is not about a radical transformation overnight, but about a conscious, gentle recommitment to the journey of healing.

These goals are not a list of chores or a measure of success, but rather six guiding principles designed to help you reclaim your strength, rebuild trust in yourself, and slowly, intentionally, stitch your sense of self back together. They are an affirmation that while the scam may be part of your story, it does not get to write the ending.

Here are our six New Year’s resolutions or goals specifically suggested that you adopt in continuing your emotional recovery journey:

1. I Will Practice the Discipline of Self-Compassion.

This year, I resolve to treat myself with the same kindness I would offer a friend who endured the same experience. When the inner voice of shame and blame begins to speak, I will consciously interrupt it. I will replace “How could I have been so stupid?” with “I was deceived by a professional predator, and I am allowed to heal.” I will understand that self-compassion is not self-pity; it is the essential act of tending to my deepest emotional wounds so they can finally begin to scar over.

2. I Will Reclaim One Small Piece of My Independence.

This year, I resolve to take one tangible step back toward the person I was before the scam, to the person that I want to become. This is not about a giant leap, but a single, manageable act of reclaiming control. It could be something as simple as asking more questions in the support group, purposefully making some daily decisions, and not just by avoiding them, or trusting my own judgment on a small purchase. Each act of reclaimed independence is a victory against the narrative of helplessness and a powerful statement that I am, once again, the author of my own life.

3. I Will Define Myself by My Resilience, Not My Wounds.

This year, I resolve to change the story I tell about myself. While the scam is a part of my history, it is not the entirety of my identity. I will consciously focus on and celebrate my strength, my courage, and my endurance. I will make a list of the qualities that helped me survive: my empathy, my intelligence, my determination, and I will make a conscious effort to nurture them. I am a survivor, yes, but I am also so much more.

4. I Will Build a Boundary and Honor It.

This year, I resolve to learn that “no” is a complete sentence and a tool for my protection. I will identify one area of my life where my boundaries are weak, perhaps with demanding family members, pushy salespeople, or even my own tendency to overcommit, and I will practice setting and enforcing a clear, firm boundary. This act is not about pushing people away; it is about creating a safe space for myself to heal and to trust my own instincts again.

5. I Will Find a Way to Turn My Pain into Purpose.

This year, I resolve to learn how to transform my traumatic experience into a source of strength for myself and others. This does not have to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple as sharing a helpful resource in a support group, sending a message of encouragement to someone who is newly struggling, or simply being a non-judgmental ear for a friend in need. By using my experience to help light the way for someone else, I help to rob my trauma of its power and give my suffering a noble purpose.

6. I Will Intentionally Seek Out Innocent Joy.

This year, I resolve to actively look for and savor moments of simple, uncomplicated happiness. The trauma of a scam can poison the well of joy, making it feel dangerous or undeserved. I will push back by consciously seeking out things that are pure and good: the warmth of the sun, the beauty of a song, the taste of a favorite food, the laughter of a child. I will treat these moments not as distractions, but as essential medicine for my soul, reminding me that there is still light and goodness in the world, and I am worthy of experiencing it. Axios.

As you move through this year, hold these resolutions not as a rigid test to be passed or failed, but as a compassionate compass guiding you back to yourself. There will be days when the weight of the past feels heavy, and progress seems impossible. On those days, be gentle.

The true measure of your recovery will not be found in the perfection of your execution, but in the quiet persistence of your effort. Each time you choose self-compassion over shame, each time you honor a boundary, and each time you allow yourself a moment of joy, you are winning.

You are not just surviving; you are actively, bravely, and beautifully healing, one day at a time.

Prof. Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.
Lic. Vianey Gonzalez, Psychologist
Debby Montgomery Johnson, Advocate
Janina Morcinek, Educator
January 2026