"Just because you’ve always been a certain way (i.e. the “quiet one”), that doesn’t mean you are bound to be that way forever. We all have the power within us to completely reinvent ourselves and our lives at any given moment. You have full permission to change, evolve, grow, and bloom into the person you truly want to be — but reinventing yourself is definitely not an overnight process. It requires a lot of inner work and some bold action, but in the end, it is oh-so-worth-it. The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to shed all the layers of the person you no longer want to be and start this new chapter as a fresh, sparkly new version of yourself.
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Whether you’re ready to make some huge leaps towards reinvention or want to ease into it with baby steps, here are five ways you can totally reinvent yourself and your reality for the new year:
1. Change your story
Sometimes (read: most of the time) the biggest thing that keeps us in the rut of being a certain way is ourselves. Maybe you were labeled as “not smart” or “too loud” when you were younger, and you believed it and spent your entire life embodying that label.
Reinventing yourself begins with writing a new story about yourself — a story of the person you actually know you are deep inside and is ready to emerge into its authentic truth.
For example, if you no longer want to be known as the “irresponsible one,” start seeing yourself as uber-responsible. It’s a simple mental switch but it can be absolutely life-changing.
Source: Andi Singer
2. Take stock of your lifestyle
The end of the year is a great time to take inventory of your life and get rid of what is no longer serving you. Ask yourself: what do I love to do that I never do? And, what am I doing that I’d rather not be doing?
It might be immersing yourself into your favorite hobby again, ditching the long work hours, playing more, setting boundaries, cutting toxic people out of your life, and not saying yes when you actually mean no. The shiny, new version of you should only do what truly feels in alignment with you.
3. Switch careers
Our careers are such a huge part of our lives. We spent 40+ hours a week for 40+ years of our lives working, so why not actually do something you truly love? There’s no such thing as too late or being too old to change things up — the time will pass anyway. In a couple of years, you could be slaying in a new field or running your own business, or you can be exactly where you are right now in your career.
Get real with yourself about what your heart really wants in terms of your career, what will give you purpose and fulfillment, and then start moving in that direction, stat.
Source: Mikasa Beauty
4. Give yourself a makeover
The way you look on the outside 100 percent affects how you feel about yourself on the inside. There’s just something about a slick blow out, a different hairstyle, a fresh mani, or a cool new outfit that makes you feel absolutely unstoppable. Changing up your look can be a major confidence booster and is a real, tangible way to literally become a new you.
So before we dive into the new year, take an honest look at your current look and decide what aspects of it don’t align with the dream version of yourself. It can be as simple as throwing out ugly underwear (your dream you only wears pretty undies) or as drastic as going from being a brunette to a bombshell blonde.
Source: Lindsey Louie
5. Build your confidence
One thing that we could definitely all use more of is confidence, and confidence is a muscle that you have to work on to make it stronger. So, anytime you are presented with an opportunity to flex it, do it! Even if it feels like you’re totally faking it. Stepping through fears gets you closer and closer to your authenticity. Try one of our 14 Mantras for Your Best Self Ever.
And for the days that you’re all tapped out of your own inner confidence, create an alter ego that will remind you how awesome you are. Beyoncé has Sasha Fierce; Miley Cyrus has Hannah Montana. Come up with your own version of a super confident, dream version of yourself and step into that persona whenever you need that extra boost.