Choose You for Your New Year’s Resolution
Why you should change the way you look at resolutions.
Hi there!
It’s that time of the year again. Everyone is shouting from the rooftops about what they are going to accomplish in the new year.
As a society, we’re constantly fed an avalanche of negativity. We’re not smart enough, grateful enough, or positive enough. Our bodies are the wrong shape, weigh more/less than they should, and are wearing outdated clothing.
So, we jump on the bandwagon. We say, “I’m going to change XYZ this year!” And we mean it, but then we fizzle out after a few days, and by February 1st, we barely remember what our resolutions were.
I encourage you to try something new this year. Rather than explore all the ways you need to change or improve, start this year by making yourself the resolution.
Promise to accept and love yourself regardless of your flaws. Choose to love your body, no matter its size.
Most importantly, decide to accept your mental illness. Stop believing that it’s a flaw, a weakness, or a failure. You are a great person just the way you are.
“Positive feelings come from being honest about yourself and accepting your personality, and physical characteristics, warts and all...”
- Willard Scott
Scott Ninneman also publishes the free All Things Bipolar Newsletter (off Substack). The Sunday email features the newest content about bipolar life.
Am I a hypocrite?
I saw this post on Facebook a couple days back: “Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself.”
The words made my lungs freeze. It was the message I needed, especially as we start a new year and I feel like I missed so many of my goals last year.
It hit home even more because my word for 2024 was “change”. I dedicated the entire year to trying to change myself and the world around me.
Did I make a mistake? By promoting positivity, am I leading you down the wrong path?
I don’t think so. Here’s why.
Change is good, but love yourself
There is value in making changes in your life. Exercising more, eating fruits and vegetables, and practicing gratitude are all beneficial. There’s no doubt about that.
When you stop abusing alcohol, focus on getting more rest, and visit the gym for more than just a smoothie, you feel better. The changes affect how you feel, and who doesn’t want to feel better?
The problem comes in when we forget to love ourselves along the way. Yeah, maybe I need to be 40 pounds (18 kg.) lighter, but shouldn’t I still love my body today?
When I look in the mirror and see a belly bulging like that of a woman 8-months pregnant, I recoil at the sight. It might as well be Medusa looking back at me, because I don’t want to see what’s in the reflection.
But that graying, overweight, 52-year-old man needs love and from me most of all.
Choose yourself this year
You need love, too. You should accept yourself, mental illness, weight issues, and bad habits all combined. Everyone deserves love, and so do you.
I challenge you to love yourself this year. Yeah, it’s still good to eat fewer cupcakes and get up and move more often, but learn to love yourself along the way.
Decide today to accept every part of you, to truly love the person in the mirror. Who knows, maybe when you finally love all the pieces that make up you, all those other goals will be easier to reach.
Choose love. Choose acceptance. Choose you.
Journal Prompt: How can you better love and accept yourself this year? Make a plan that includes time for self-care and self-reflection.
Creative Writing Prompt: You’re an alien on a planet where everyone has dark purple skin and your skin is bright green. Rather than cover your skin, you choose to accept it and show it to the world. Write the story.
Until next time, keep fighting.
Scott Ninneman
To help you start the year in the best mindset, be sure to check out my 5-Lesson Year-End Review Series on YouTube. Here is the week one lesson.
Additional Reading:
The book that started it all…
Disclaimer:
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When I think of changing destructive habits I think of this quote by Wayne Gretzky. He said: You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
I love this message. Exactly what I needed to read this first day of the new year. Happy New Year, Scott!