Why the Phrase "New Year, New You" Needs to Stop Being a Thing

It's that time again. Everywhere I turn I'm being bombarded with the phrase "New Year, New You". No matter what kind of content you view, no matter the medium you receive that content through, and no matter how hard you try to avoid it the "New Year, New You" machine will find you. Heck, in its own backwards way it's even managed to invade the content here!

It's on the News and TV shows.

via 12news.com and doctoroz.com

 It's where you shop online and in Magazines.

via amazon.com and realsimple.com

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve yourself and at the beginning of a new year when everyone is making resolutions is a great time to set self-improvement goals. The problem I have with "New Year, New You" is the silent implication that who you are isn't good enough.

Words are powerful things, as every Bibliophile knows, and the words we choose to surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our lives. So being surrounded by a phrase that is supremely judgmental in tone can have a, usually unintended, negative effect on our view of ourselves. Perhaps there is  something you want to change about yourself, that's great! Personal growth is a good thing! But to have the media subtly implying that you need to change isn't good.

The, usual, sentiment behind "New Year, New You" is to make a positive change in yourself for the new year. This, I believe, can be better expressed by one of two alternate phrases: "New Year, New Me" or "New Year, True You" / "New Year, True Me"

New Year, New Me

It's true that not everyone is happy with who they are, and that's okay! Life is defined by growth and change and the drive to be the best version of ourselves is an admirable thing. But we as individuals should be defining who we are, not letting some external force make that decision for us. "New Year, New Me" gives us back that sense of agency that is taken away by "New Year, New You". The word "Me" focuses on both the target and the driver of the change allowing the individual to choose who they are.

New Year, True You / New Year, True Me

For many who are making resolutions in the new year it's about not letting the bad habits or tendencies they have accumulated hide who they truly are as a person. Letting our true selves shine is a great goal! With "New Year, True You" / "New Year, True Me" that previous external judgement has become supportive and encouraging. Who couldn't use more support and encouragement to be themselves? I know I definitely can! We fear the judgement of others and as a result hide our true selves under the disguise of what we think others are expecting to see. When we do that we break down communication because if we aren't being true to ourselves, we cannot be true to others.

So please, can we all agree that even though it's a catchy phrase "New Year, New You" just needs to stop being a thing?