The calendar change does not require an upending of my life, just encouragement to make small adjustments.
Yesterday I sat in my quiet kitchen with gingerbread toast, a mug of English tea, and listened to a podcast that reminded me of a few of my foundational truths.
“I want us all to have the foundational perspective that who you are today is perfectly lovely. You don’t have to change who you are under this ‘New Year, New You’ mindset in order to matter.” – Kendra Adachi
We are bombarded by messages this time of year to make radical changes to who we are and what our lives look like.
Just because that’s the messaging we are surrounded by does not mean we must blindly follow and uproot what is working.
I am a big believer in making changes when life feels off or doesn’t fit our current season. I hit burnout because I dug my heels in and refused to change even though all the signs showed me I needed to adjust.
You can read about that more here:
My Burnout Breakthrough: Embracing Less for a Fuller Life w/Joanna Bischoff
The Journey of Personal Growth
However, that type of change was inspired from WITHIN.
This “New Year, New Me” energy that happens in ads, from influencers, and yells at us through our TVs is based on consumption. It is pushed upon us by others with selfish intentions, not compassion for our needs.
Our economically driven society does not want us to be content or feel settled. That would reduce our spending.
In Kendra Adachi’s podcast, she reminded me where this drive for new planners and new diets comes from. The culture of consumerism colors how we make decisions and how we evaluate our “progress”.
This is why I believe reflection is such a powerful process.
Clarity comes when we take a few minutes to honestly ask ourselves specific questions. Often those answers do not have a price tag or can’t be found at a store.
“All that matters is the realization that someone or something is always influencing our thoughts, our way of living, our purchases, our behaviors, and our values.” – Jessica Elefante (from Raising Hell, Living Well)
In Elefante’s book Raising Hell, Living Well1 she gives us a look behind the curtain at how we allow ourselves to be changed by our consumer society. She shows the nesting dolls of influence that silently insulate our lives and impact our daily decisions.
So how do we break free from the patterns set by consumerism and overwhelm?
We pause.
Refection is key.
By taking a moment to slow down and answer some simple questions in a journal, or talk-text a note into my phone, I find the way forward.
- What am I working towards? Why?
- How am I doing in ________?
- (my relationships, career, parenting, skills learned)
- How do I feel about my home? Why?
- What needs to change?
Each moment I spend in reflection brings new solutions to mind. It’s not about finding a perfect formula or plan—because one doesn’t exist.
I embrace honesty about where I am, what impacts me right now, and how I can move toward living a life that matches what I care about.
these will help you if reflection does not feel natural:
Feeling Like a Weirdo – Journaling in Public
Podcast Ep. #005 – Journaling
You don’t need to overhaul your life to make the new year meaningful. If you feel overwhelmed, identify where that pressure is coming from, and then give yourself permission to start small or not at all.
This season can be a gentle reminder to slow down, tune in, and trust that growth will come naturally when it feels right.
💙- April
I highly recommend this excellent read if you are tired of the frantic pace of this land of Oz we are in = Jessica Elefante (Raising Hell, Living Well)
Also check out the first chapter of The Plan by Kendra Adachi or this podcast reading of Chapter One
