It seems that every January 1 — especially since the boom of social media — marks the birth of the new individual. Self-proclaimed; or self-recycled, I should say. The “new year, new me” type. A concept that was once figurative speech has evolved into literal brouhaha. 2014 is a new year, yes, but it’s the same you.

You don’t need the calendar to flip a page to change things about yourself. Quite honestly, your annual declaration of a new self proves that you are indeed the same intolerable creature as the previous year, the year before that, and so on. What needs to be realized is that it’s not always about change, but about chance. You don’t need to completely rebirth yourself, but simply modify the existing one.

As opposed to starting from ground zero [in your mind], approach and commit to a more realistic concept this year: chance. Author Jim Rohn once stated that, “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

Be daring in 2014. Take a chance on whatever it is that you’ve had reservations about for so long. Be it school, work, relationships, etc. — however, stay true to you. Believe it or not, you don’t have to abandon your house in hopes of obtaining a home. Rather, add the furnishings to your existing residence to make it a more secure dwelling.

Happy New Year.

Signed,

Sirelle