Fleur-Rose McQuillan Contemplates the Art of Starting Anew
After the build up to Christmas day is over and the weird period between Christmas and New Year rolls around, we begin to start envisioning our goals and aspirations for the year ahead. We may start journalling how we want our year to play out or we might even begin writing what we want to achieve in the new year. But why does this desire to want to better ourselves and improve our situation have to begin in the New Year? Why can’t we have this attitude all year round? Personally I am a believer in New Year’s resolutions; I love the collective motivation that we all have to want to improve. I am always looking for ways to better myself whether it’s in regards to my studies or my personal life I am an avid believer in working on myself. However, equally some days I just don’t have this motivation no matter how I approach the situation. Sometimes it’s okay to recognise and accept this.
Where did the tradition of New Year originate?
The origin of New Year originates from Ancient Babylon, where the first new moon which followed the vernal equinox marked the start of the new year. In 46 B.C.E Julius Caesar established January 1st as New Year’s Day to honour Janus, the Roman God of beginnings. However, it is the Babylonians who are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions: promises to their Gods each year. Around 2000 B.C the Babylonians celebrated New Year during Akitu, a twelve day festival which began with the vernal equinox.
Why are some people against New Year’s resolutions?
Sometimes I think we all forget the amount of pressure and expectations that go hand in hand with the New Year especially if we aren’t addressing the underlying motivation and reasons for wanting to change. If you want to change something about yourself and your situation in order to improve yourself, it’s best to approach it with a clear purpose as to why you want to change and ensure you’re setting smaller and more specific goals. Often we set too big and unrealistic goals for the New Year which ultimately result in being overwhelmed and frustration and therefore not actually sticking to them. We end up trapping ourselves in a yearly cycle of setting an unachievable goal, recognising this and then giving up. When you make these plans to improve yourself, just ensure you consider the reasons behind it and take it in smaller steps. You won’t see change immediately: it’s a process that you should enjoy instead of disliking.
So, why can’t we have this attitude of wanting to change throughout the year? What is it about the New Year that inspires everyone? Why can’t I set goals and aspirations monthly rather than yearly? Many of us are conditioned to believe and associate the New Year with change and resolutions, especially with social media being so prevalent and inspirational. Nowadays, there is almost an expectation to improve ourselves in order to maintain social connection. So, we watch these Tik Toks instructing us on how to set goals in the New Year; we read books informing us on how to improve ourselves and we do this to maintain connections with people.
But, when have we stopped to think if we’re happy with the image we’re projecting of ourselves? Personally, I believe that the New Year should start with you; the goals and aspirations you want to achieve should be for yourself rather than others. There should be meaning and motivation behind why you want to achieve said goals. Ensure that you take this into account when the New Year rolls around.
