More Me, Not New Me: 2026 New Year's Resolution
Did the math and realized I'm only hitting 10% of my resolutions. This year, instead of fixing myself, I'm fixing the framework – turning 2026 into a year of small experiences, adventures, sparks, and kindness. Not an Endless Renovation Project of Me.
The 10% Realization
I've been a "write New Year's resolutions in a fresh notebook" woman for years.
This year, I was stuck on what to commit to, so I flipped through my resolutions from the past 10 years.
"Quit smoking" — written down 3 times. Hey, no judgments! And yes, I've heard everybody tell me how bad it is for me, blah blah blah. Let's come back later to this — maybe next year!
"Retire this year" — written down for 5 years straight. Felt good to check this one off the list finally!
Success rate around 30% - not great!
Then Chris blurted out, "Babe, you got restructured. Does that count as an achievement?"
He got that famous "JT look" — the death stare with a smile!
Reluctantly, I had to recalculate.
Success rate plummets from 30% to maybe 10%.
Hmm... If my success rate at work were 10%, I probably would have been restructured a long time ago! 🤯
So why do I keep making resolutions?
Is It Just Me, Or Is This Bizarre?
Right after New Year's, you cannot miss it.
"New Year, New You."
"Transform in 2026."
"Be a better version of yourself."
Social posts EVERYWHERE!
My brain keeps going to the question: What would a "better" version of me even look like?
I sat with this a lot longer than I care to admit — because I actually like this version of me.
The glass-half-full, silver-lining-by-default, TODAY'S me.
Don't get me wrong, I have my moments — clearly I do from the rationalizations in these blogs!
But does that mean I need a full overhaul?
Should I be more dissatisfied with myself to qualify for a New Me?
Hard pass.
Why My 10% Isn't About Will Power!
I set out to question the design, the architecture, the framework for this thing called "New Year's resolutions."
Turns out the psych folks actually have names for this nonsense.
False hope syndrome — setting goals that are too big, too vague, and designed for a fantasy version of ourselves that we hope will be true.
Does this mean I shouldn't set the goal to be 5'6"?
Can I still say that on my driver's license?
Betterment burnout — the exhaustion from the never-ending pursuit of a "better" self. Upgrade your body, your productivity, your parenting, your home, your emotional intelligence.
Does this have to be a complete renovation, like a facelift?
Or just minor tweaks, like Botox?
All-or-nothing thinking — make one slip and the whole thing is doomed to "fail."
Now I know why when I miss one Pilates class — I cannot go back for the rest of the year!
Is the system rigged? It sets us up by dangling unrealistic goals to start. Then we add work, family, aging parents, or whatever else pops up each week.
Impossible to succeed!
This is worse than my projection of high expectations to others!
That's BULLSHIT!
More Me, Not New Me
My intentional move for 2026: Give myself three simple lanes to play in each month — to prevent my brain from turning this into another corporate goal deck.
1. Enhance something you're already good at that sparks you.
Putting more effort into the social distribution side. This blog has sparked something unexpected for me, so I will continue to broaden the reach.
I'm a novice at this social media stuff - so wish me luck!
2. Try one thing you've always wanted to do.
Going to use my InstaPot! Asking my mom to come over and teach me how to cook, starting with one day a month.
Hidden agenda: get her out of her apartment and feeling "useful" again.
3. Build acts of kindness into my day-to-day.
Making kindness more intentional — buying the coffee for the person behind me in line, or texting someone I haven't talked to in a while to say "I'm thinking of you."
Seems everyone has opinions on what constitutes kindness or just an act. Whatever. Going to do this anyway!
My goal is to create memorable experiences and adventures, not to self-critique. Done treating my resolutions like an endless "your better self" project.
Your Move?
If you did the same audit of your January promises over the last 5-10 years, what's your real hit rate? Pure curiosity, no judgment.
For this year, pick one thing you're good at that gives you a spark — not work, not a responsibility. Block time once a month to actually do it. Don't cheat.
Or pick one new thing to try this year and put the first attempt on your calendar. You don't owe it a forever commitment — just one date.
Or a random act of kindness. Or when someone cuts in line in front of you, say this REALLY, REALLY LOUD: "You're Welcome! Guess You Are More In A Hurry Than the Rest of Us Standing Here In Line!"
Oops, never mind — that's my old corporate armor popping up again.
P.S. We have five (5) new subscribers this week! Thank you all for taking the time to read my post each week! Really appreciate your notes each week!
P.P.S. For women in the Unscripted Middle — between who they were, who they are today, and who they’ll be — if a friend sent this to you, and you thought, “that’s me,” pull up a chair by subscribing.
P.P.P.S. Wondering how I got here? I got restructured by AI, spent three weeks planning instead of doing anything, watched my face stage a hostile takeover, realized I'd weaponized my hobbies, and got called out for my high expectations, had an epiphany that friendships have expiration dates, and realized I was failing at retirement. Standard stuff.
