New Year, More Authentic Me
I don’t know about you, but I am very much over the trope of ‘new year, new me’. I know it may sound appealing after the kind of year 2020 has been, but pause for a moment and let me tell you why I’m not buying into it anymore.
Not only do I find it unhelpful, but also wrong. You don’t need to be a brand new you (also, what even is that!?), you don’t need to shed your skin and put on a new face, you’re great as you are. Instead of ‘new’, we grow, develop and become more authentic. Let’s celebrate that!
It’s never about becoming a whole new person. It’s about becoming a more authentic you.
Back in December 2017, I wrote a blog with the exact title ‘New Year, New Me..?’ where I said I loved that phrase. But I don’t. That’s wrong. I’ve grown, I’ve developed and I’m not afraid to admit that I don’t agree with where I was three years ago, I’ve become more authentic.
In my 2017 blog, I said the ‘new year, new me’ rhetoric resonated with me as it made us take a step back and think about what we want, what our values are, where we want to go. I still agree with the questions it poses to us, but to help us think more clearly about what we really want, who we are and where we want to go, changing the phrasing is more helpful, more constructive. No ‘new you’ but ‘more authentic you’.
How to start bringing your authenticity to the forefront even more in 2021?
Take a moment now.
Inhale for 4 seconds. Exhale for 8 seconds.
Repeat for 10 breaths whilst you roll your shoulders up on your inhale and roll them down and stretch out your neck on your exhale.
Release the tension you’re holding in your jaw.
Clear your mind and focus on counting your breaths.
Inhale for 4 seconds. Exhale for 8 seconds.
Now you’ve taken that moment to come into the present. First of all, Write down your 3 core values. The things that matter most to you in day to day life. These could be values such as integrity, honesty, family, compassion, nourishment etc. What resonates with you?
Second of all, looking at your values, the things that matter most to you, what one priority do you want to focus on for 2021? Write it down. To help you, think about what your main focus will be, where are you wanting to spend most of your energy?
Thirdly, now you have that, what three small actions can you do on a regular basis to focus on that priority?
Life is the accumulation of what we do day to day, so creating a simple, enjoyable process that you can stick to consistently (and want to stick to) is of paramount importance.
Finally, think about what potential barriers could come up that would stop you sticking to your three small actions? What could you do to work around these barriers and use them as a platform to grow, learn and develop even further?
Every step you take brings you towards a more authentic you. Remember, no ‘new’ you is required. Be you, and let your authentic self shine bright.
Want to know more about coaching with me? Get in touch on email: beth@andhope.co.uk or connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn