New Year, New Me?

It’s yet another new year and many tend to be pretty reflective of the last year with hopes that 2019 will be even better (or completely better). I also hear and see the phrase “New Year, New Me” being tossed around a lot. But should we be striving for new versions of ourselves? I would argue that the best part of being human is that we can take our past experiences and learn from them, rather than being completely blind to the past.

So instead of “New Year, New Me”, how about “New Year, Renewed Me”? The new year is a great time to take inventory of how things are going with us. Perhaps you aren’t as far in life as you thought you would be, or you just had that dreamy New Years engagement that you were hoping for. But now what? What do you do with that?

This is also the time, more than ever, to be compassionate towards yourself and get away from the comparison game that our culture is so used to. This way you don’t have to be a completely new person to feel accomplished. Despite what the voice that tells you to measure your success against others, challenge that voice to tell yourself what you have accomplished in the last year that has gone towards fulfilling your values and goals.

Those past experiences from the last year can go into informing your choices and decisions for the next year. The choices that you made last year were for a reason and being compassionate towards the you then will help you become the you that you hope to be. Little has ever been accomplished by putting yourself down and usually much more can be accomplished when you are kind to yourself. You might even be more fulfilled in the process!
In our reflections and resolutions, try looking towards renewal, restoration, and attainability. Above all, be kind towards yourself in the process.

​In our reflections and resolutions, try looking towards renewal, restoration, and attainability. Above all, be kind towards yourself in the process.

-Tracy Norcross, pre-licensed counseling intern

If you are interested in learning more about Tracy, find more info and contact information here: www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/tracy-norcross-grand-rapids-mi/405530