By: Ripples Turquand
We’re about a month into 2026, where social media scrolls are filled with rebranding promises and the pressure to reinvent ourselves. Rather than chasing personal reinvention, I have decided to reframe the ways I approach change.
When you’re first starting to implement progress, the scariest place is stagnation, when you’re swirling in your thoughts about how to start your fitness goals, clear your skin, or eat healthier. Instead of trying to pack on numerous goals to reach every day, the most beautiful change is a quiet, intentional evolution.
Ella Parastaran, a digital writer for SMU Look, said she did not make any resolutions and instead will “make smaller goals for myself throughout the year.” She thought that “waiting until New Year’s to make a resolution or change feels a bit insincere to me. I think the whole idea of everyone trying to make changes for the new year is great, but I feel like the core of the tradition gets lost, so focusing on goals throughout the year has been more appealing to me.”
A “better version” of you does not mean that last year was broken. The “rebranding” obsession is admirable when authentic to you, but quickly becomes exhausting when performative.
Why change is good
In my opinion, the words “change” or “alter” have a negative connotation because change is uncomfortable at first. Psychological safety is what keeps us on the same routine all year, instead of adding mid-year resolutions. Our brains are wired for familiarity and to conserve energy, which is why change directly triggers stress or resistance. We crave a sense of predictability in a chaotic and uncertain world.
But psychologically, embracing change is the key to personal growth. By preventing stagnation and constant comfort in your life, doors will begin to open to new opportunities.
Positive thinking amid change is not delusion; it’s a tool to lead to better emotional control and outcomes. I’m sure you’ve heard of the phrase “fake it ‘til you make it.” This rings true in all aspects of life: an interview, skill acquisition, or becoming the person you aspire to be. The key to this mindset and phrase is positivity and drive. When you have the goal to change, you will keep your head held high and fake it ‘til you make it.
When we reframe “change” as an evolution instead of immediate results or correction, we empower ourselves. This makes change more manageable and less daunting.
Your secret superpower for adaptation: neuroplasticity
The National Library of Medicine defines neuroplasticity as “the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections.” To put it simply, neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to rewire itself in response to new experiences, challenges, or lessons.
While this might feel like an abstract concept, it is happening inside your body all the time. Your brain is strengthening existing connections and weeding out neuron connections that no longer suit your lifestyle. I was on the phone with my mom this morning explaining that I have let go of some of my resolutions because they became too much to keep track of. I felt overwhelmed, did not always have time to walk 10K steps outside, or have the energy every morning to wake up at sunrise. It was too much for me to pile into every day.
Neuroplasticity ties directly into those overwhelming resolutions that I had to tone down. Forcing rigid habits without flexibility can lead to burnout and an ultimate feeling of defeat, when resolutions are meant to be a fun way of “rebranding” ourselves. Neuroplasticity shows us that gradual, authentic adjustments allow the brain to naturally adapt without being overloaded or overstimulated.
Start now!
I have noticed that people often begin new habits in the new year as an easy starting point. It makes sense, January 1 feels like a clean slate. However, I urge you to start making changes in your life the second you feel an aspiration to refresh something.
It is not about perfection; it is about consistent, meaningful input into the brain that reshapes your neural networks over time, not all at once.