Sorry, But You Don’t Need a “New You”

First, Happy New Year!

I wanted to let you enjoy the first day of the year and ask you, how many times did you see “become a new you” in advertisements. I have counted so many I lost track. They actually started these ads a few days back. But it’s all the same. Promising you that you can leave your old self in the last year and if you use their service, you can become someone new, someone, you’ve always wanted to be.

Sounds so appealing. Leave it all behind. Use a service. Because who you want. The problem I have is that you don’t need a new you. Let me explain.

These ads build on the premise that what you have now is not good enough. And that’s where I have a problem. You have a working, living and functioning body. That is enough. You might not be treating it the best, and it might not be in tip-top shape, but that’s no reason to wish for a trade in and a brand new one.

Anything uncared for will eventually break down

Even the most resilient automobiles if fed the wrong fluids, not enough gas, and abused break down. It’s not the car, it’s the care.

The same thing goes for your body. Your body is a response to what you do to it.  If it’s running rough, it’s time to look at how you are caring for it. It’s not that you need a “new you” and anything is wrong with the “old you.” Embrace that you have this fantastic vehicle for life and understand that with better care comes better results.

What’s a good new years resolution for health?

I want you to mentally throw out the idea that what you’re working with is not enough. Start asking, what have I done to maintain this beautiful body? What am I building it out of every day? Fast food or whole foods? Energy or negativity? Despair or optimism? Everything we do matters.

So this year instead of resolving to be a new, different person, resolve to take better care of the person you already are.

Here are some things I love to hear people resolve to take care of in their lives:

• Hydrate with at least 1 gallon of water a day
• Eat 1 cup of veggies at every meal
• Carve out 10 minutes of quiet time each day
• Create a bedtime routine to get at least 7 hours of sleep
• Start the day by saying 3 positive things about yourself in the mirror
• Have technology free time with friends and family each day
• Spend 1-hour learning and practicing [insert new hobby] each week
• Cut credit card debt by 10% each month
• Write a letter to grandma each month

I love these types of resolutions because of trying to run away from yourself, you’re coming towards yourself with positive and attainable goals that care for your true well being.

The mental energy you approach change with matters

The state of mind you try to change yourself it makes a large difference in actually being able to accomplish it. Hating yourself, wishing to be someone different, and negative emotions like that fuel negative energy in our bodies and lead us further away from where we want to be.

Creating goals based and care and love of the you that you currently have creates positive energy for you to work on.

What do you feel about how you approach resolutions and change? I’d love to hear your thoughts.