New year, same you! We’re all familiar with the rhetoric of becoming a new you as soon as January the 1st hits. Many usually have a list of unrealistic new years resolutions that are too drastic of changes for them to maintain. This is why they struggle with remaining consistent.
New beginnings, new identities, and all that is wonderful, but why are we working so hard to start something new when we have the best thing right in front of us… ourselves? A change in the calendar does not change who we are and our habits. The beginning of the year is only one day, that fresh start high may die out within a week. As much as we love to start new things at the beginning of the year or beginning of the week as it gives us the feeling of a clean slate, it has a high chance of not withstanding the test of time and we fall off sooner than we would have liked.
Instead of focusing on changing things and starting over, we encourage you to first focus on being more compassionate, kind, caring, and positively constructive with yourself as you are and when you do look for change, do so lovingly. Change is good, and we’re all works in progress, but before we work on the change, acceptance is the most important ingredient for satisfaction, love, and happiness.
It’s okay if your goals aren’t all figured out by the first day or even week of the year. You are allowed to give yourself space to pray, think, plan and prepare for the year you want to have past January 1st.
Also see: Keeping your new years resolutions