New Year, You’re Still You

As we step into the New Year, the air is filled with resolutions and the pressure to level up. “New Year, New Me,” and full gyms, and decluttered homes abound. There’s a fresh energy in the air, to be sure, but the resolution craze forgets one important piece of the puzzle: as you step into this new year, even if you make all the changes you hope to, at the end of the day, you’re still you.

And that’s not a bad thing.

In this hurry to shift, adjust, and amend ourselves, it’s easy to miss ourselves. As a therapist, I’m obviously a proponent of growth, and I wholeheartedly believe people can change, but I think a critical step in that process is accepting ourselves.

If you try to make big changes from a place of self-hatred or harsh criticism, without learning to have grace and compassion for yourself, you may succeed in making external changes, but you won’t truly find satisfaction. Have you even heard the saying, “Wherever you go, there you are?” You are your only true life-long companion, and changing circumstances, or even aspects of yourself won’t magically create more happiness and contentment if you still haven’t learned how to love yourself.

As a therapist, my message is simple: don't let the external noise drown out your inner voice. Take a moment to appreciate who you are, recognizing that every step towards change must be undertaken as an act of self-love, not of self-critique. Remember, the path to a better you starts with acknowledging and loving the person you are today.