“NEW YEAR, NEW ME!”
Hey, can I tell you a secret? The new year really doesn’t mean anything… it’s just a date on a calendar.
Now before you roll your eyes and think I’m just being a negative Nancy, just think about it. What really changes? The calendar starts over and people make all these grandiose “resolutions” that likely will be forgotten about in a week.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that because the calendar starts anew, so should we! “New year, new me.” But why?
Don’t. Give. In.
You do not need to give in to the form of toxic positivity that are New Year’s resolutions and all that comes with it. Are you happy with yourself? Do you feel comfortable with yourself? Then you don’t need to change anything. Do you feel like you need to compare yourself to other moms, other professionals, or other people in general? Stop it. You are you, you are your own person. You do not need a “new year” to be a “new me.”
Toxic positivity and body image.
Now is also the time when you’re being confronted with people trying to take advantage of you and take advantage of the new year to sell you something. Take a step back and ask yourself if they’re looking out for you or just looking out for themselves to make some more money? So much of this hinges on body image. Eat “clean,” be “healthier,” be “fit.” And these are all tactics to sell you a product or service. The pressure is unbearable and is spun in such a way that you feel worse about yourself if you’re not constantly making physical improvements.
Making real changes.
If you feel like you need to make a change in your heart, for your spirit, for your mental health, PLEASE DO IT! Then make small, intentional changes in a way that makes you comfortable. Do it quietly, do it loudly, do it whichever way you’d like but do it for yourself. Because you feel like you’d be a better person because of it. But not because you feel outside pressure from family or “friends” or acquaintances or strangers on the internet. It is toxic to you and those around you. Steer clear of social media lies and stay true to yourself and your heart.
You’ve made it this far, you’ll continue to make it on your own time, in your own way. So, you do not need to be a new you in 2023, you need to be you, the way that makes you happy and healthy.
Celebrate all the growth you’ve made up until this point. You don’t need pressure to be made anew.
Updated December 2023
