Ditch The “New Year, New Me” Mindset
Updated: Mar 22, 2024
Written by: Michaela Shaffer, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We’re now in the second week of the New Year and I want to touch base on resolutions. Specifically “New Year, New Me '' resolutions as it is one of the most frustrating phrases to me. The intention is good and positive but it can also be misleading. It implies that at the beginning of each new year we must embrace a new “us” and that the new year is the best or the only time we can harness that regenerative energy. Usually on the tail end is something geared towards losing weight, attaining the “perfect” body or “kick starting” your health with meal replacements and other possibly harmful propaganda and products.
I want to pivot from that notion. Yes, we restart at the beginning of a new year and that’s amazing, there’s definitely a good energy at the beginning of a new year, but what about every other day? We live and experience 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days each and every year. So really we have 12 monthly, 52 weekly and 365 daily opportunities to begin anew.
I encourage you to step away from only waiting for the New Year to arrive to even begin thinking about the new or improved you, when you have a million chances in between! In fact, every second of the day is another beautiful opportunity to choose again. To be better. To improve, to learn, to grow, to heal, and to nourish our bodies, minds and souls in the most authentic and honorable ways we can.
The new year is a huge reminder that we are saying goodbye to the past year and welcoming in the next 12 months with excitement and awe, but it shouldn’t be a time where we pick ourselves apart and try every fad diet, tip or trick in the book just to start the new year off with momentum. Most resolutions drop off by February anyway so what’s the point of getting yourself all worked up and further discouraged or disconnected to yourself?
Your relationship to food and your body is a lifetime journey, it won’t always look or feel the same (it’s not supposed to!) Coming into the new year with the intention to “ do it right” this time and follow the siren call of diet culture, yet again, further drives you away from your body, your intuition and your true healing potential. That’s why the resolutions don’t stick, why you come back to square one disappointed, frustrated and willing to give up so easily.
You are not the problem, it’s most likely the approach and mindset that’s not working. So rather than get discouraged, throw in the towel and say “next year it’ll happen” why not change the path you’re on today? Like I mentioned before we have all the time in the world to choose again, to try something new, to learn and adapt. Perhaps that’s the puzzle piece you’ve been missing this whole time.
This is 2022. This will be the year you step into your higher power, take the time to learn about your needs, honor them with wise choices and make yourself a priority. This is the year you start to fall back in love with yourself and reconnect to your confidence: body, mind and spirit. So long as you make the choice and the commitment to yourself. That is key! You cannot put the responsibility of self-improvement on something or someone else (diet, personal trainer, therapist etc.) the only way you will truly succeed is if you stay consistent, stay honest with yourself, try the best you can no matter what and never stop moving forward no matter how small the step may be. That is the key to your success.
Come be a part of the Nourished Soul Community where you’ll receive unique guidance, support and education, without the cookie-cutter rules and restrictions, to ditch fad diets, destructive eating habits, and negative self talk to fully embody a life of confidence and well-being through your body, mind and soul.
Michaela Shaffer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Michaela Shaffer is a Body Image Coach who helps women ditch fad diets, destructive eating habits and negative self talk to embody a life of health, happiness and utter confidence. Before she became an expert in the relationship to the body, she too battled negative body image, mindset and destructive eating habits. For years she tried to attain the "perfect" body, going to extreme lengths to try and change her appearance, size and weight so she could then be accepted, loved and found worthy. However, things took a turn for the better when she formulated a proven holistic way to heal her relationship to her body, mind and even her emotions to find worth from within. As a result she became the happiest, healthies and most confident version of herself. With these proven steps in her online programs, "Sassy, Sexy & Confident" "Nourished Soul Collective" and "Back to Basics" she's been able to serve women and help them break free from diet culture, false beliefs, negative view of self and guide them to a life of freedom, confidence, health and happiness.
