It is that time of year when New Year is looming around the corner. In this post, I will be providing you with some perspective as to why New Year isn’t always a joyous occasion. In addition, I also talk about self-acceptance and provide a couple mindfulness practices that can encourage this.
Firstly, I want to start off with a quote that stopped me in my tracks:
‘Comparison is the thief of joy’.
I find that this quote encapsulates how many of us feel at the end of the year.
How so?
The end of the year can be exhausting for many; as it is common to reflect on certain life events that have or haven’t happened during the past 12 months. Often our inner self-critic can contribute to this.
When reviewing the year through our own perspective, many will instantly think about what didn’t go right rather than what we did achieve. This can be the more common option for people due to societies strive for perfection.
If we are not where we thought we would be with our life goals at a certain age, the milestones we map out for ourselves lead us to believe that we need to change.
We can be so quick to find ourselves comparing the year we’ve experienced against people we know or see online.
Maybe a friend got promoted at work and you have stayed in the same job this year. This is an outside perspective as this is only one area of their life; maybe that same friend was going through a fractious relationship and may compare themselves to someone who has recently gotten engaged. Even though people see what they choose to see, so many of us always find something to put us down.
These negative thoughts are unhelpful, which could explain why people feel the need to make changes to their life. This time of year, it is commonly ‘New Year, New Me!’ which reinforces the NEED to change and make the next year better than the last; but the same time next year we can repeat the cycle.
So, I want to offer an alternative perspective on this force-fed narrative of New Year’s.
Let’s replace the negative inner self-critic with self-acceptance.
But… why?
Imagine if someone you care about was telling you about all the negative reflections about their year and you responded with “that’s not good enough”, “you didn’t try hard enough” or “you didn’t do your best”.
That’s harmful and you wouldn’t want to hurt a loved one. So why is it ok to do it to yourself?
Maybe this year didn’t go as you hoped and may have been the worst year you’ve experienced in a long time. But there will still be many things worth commemorating.
We often think that we have to look for the stereotypical BIG life events, but we don’t.
If it helps you, write a list or type in your notes app, write down what you accomplished this year that made you proud.
It could be that you started going to the gym more. You finally read that book you said you were going to. Maybe you did a good deed and helped spread some kindness.
You don’t always realise the positive impact you make in people’s lives!
I also find it important to note that I am not saying that change is bad.
It is also ok to want to change something about your life as we are constantly evolving as people. What I am reinforcing is that you should never change because society expects you to, or you think it does.
If you make the decision to create change, it should be because you want to, not because you were told or think you ‘should’
I want to leave you with this. Instead of saying ‘New Year New Me’, why don’t you try and say ‘New Year, Same Me’.
Why?
Because you are amazing as you are.
Instead of setting resolutions, why not switch it up to positive affirmations.
Repeating these to yourself can help you feel strong and loved. This mindfulness practice can encourage you to find your self-acceptance.
Try saying these or think of your own that resonate!
- I am worthy
- I am loved
- I always do my best
- Today is going to be a good day
- I am a good person
- I accept love and kindness
- I turned up
Myself and the Wellbeing Therapy Solutions Team wish you all the best for 2026.
