Ever felt like the only person in the room who didn't make a New Year's resolution? Well, guess what? You're not alone, and this is the episode where we celebrate that. I'm Michael Maassel, your host, and I am turning the tables on the traditional New Year's narrative. I am exploring the liberating choice to sidestep the resolution frenzy and why it's perfectly fine to do so. It's all about embracing the beauty of personal choice and realizing that a calendar flip isn't a mandate for change.
As I peel back the layers of societal expectations, I discuss the freedom that comes from setting your own pace for self-improvement and the courage it takes to stand firm in your convictions. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling the pinch of peer pressure or the weight of holiday season sobriety. I am here to remind you that success is defined on your terms, and the power of staying true to oneself is a celebration in its own right. Join me for an episode that uplifts and empowers as we affirm that change is constant and doesn't require a grand announcement or a specific date to begin.
For over 50 years, Harmony Foundation has worked as a nonprofit to serve those seeking recovery from substance addictions. Our residential and intensive outpatient programs are in a collaborative and respectful treatment environment with multiple specialty tracks offering additional support. Our main campus is nestled on a 43-acre campus in the Rocky Mountains just outside of Estes Park, Colorado, that promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. With one of the most robust alumni programs in the county, clients remain connected and empowered for a lifelong journey of recovery.
Hey, hey, welcome to season three, episode two of Monday State of Mind brought to you by Harmony Foundation. My name is Michael Mausel and I am your host. Happy Monday. I'm so excited about this episode because, let me tell you, amazing listeners, this episode is going to totally contradict what I said in the season three opener, and that is 100% okay, because that episode is for people that align with that message of how to walk into 2024 new calendar year. This episode is for people that need to hear this message and celebrate this, because I don't think this is something that should be ignored and it's something that I need to hear as well.
Speaker 1:
I was talking to Christie about this and I told her I have to talk about this because, for whatever reason, these last couple weeks, it's just been something that's been brought up around me and in my circles of friends and circles of just influence, and so we're going to bring it up. What I'm going to talk about is giving you permission and not buy into the hype of the new year. I'm serious because here's the thing if you didn't set an intention, awesome. If you didn't think twice about a new year's resolution for 2024, heck, yeah, I'm celebrating you. This is a calendar new year. If you don't align with the calendar year and setting intentions and words and goals, you don't have to buy into the hype of changing your whole everything because of a date on the calendar. I'm also going to say this you might feel judged for not having a resolution or feeling like you're missing out because everybody around you is oh my gosh, what's your new year's resolution? Oh my gosh, what's going to be your word? What's your intention? You are not missing out. Stop trying to fit in, just to fit in. Honestly, what are you really trying to fit into with all of this hype? Social media basically demands that you do something with the new year. Don't buy into it. Seriously, I'll even tell you, by January 1st I was exhausted with everything popping up on my social media thread. I seriously was just done and I was exhausted seeing all this stuff. I want to tell you to buy in to what feels right for you. Don't buy into it to what society says. Buy into being like you know what I'm going to do me and I'm going to do what feels right for me. Don't stress yourself out if you didn't do a vision board, if you didn't eat black eyed peas or saved your house Like this isn't your jam, dude, it isn't your jam. Don't do things because you think you need to. Let's be real.
Speaker 1:
I've said this so many times on my podcast change happens all the time. Change doesn't just happen on January 1st. I said this in the opener for season three. I do think that it is cool if that is what people need to provoke change in their life. If people really do need that January 1st because they know that there is a collective that's doing it, awesome. But don't try to do something for the new year only to set yourself up for future failure later. Don't just do it because everybody else is doing it.
Speaker 1:
This New Year's Eve hype doesn't have to be a belief system that you need to be a part of and, honestly, for people in early recovery, if all you do for New Year's Eve and for New Year's Day is stay sober, you are winning, especially people in early recovery. Be gentle on yourself. Don't load your plate. Take life a day at a time. Pretend, like this New Year's bullshit doesn't exist and the only thing that exists for you is focusing on staying sober. I'll say this, even for all the people in recovery however long you have, if all you do is stay sober around a crazy holiday season and do nothing else. Damn, what a blessing. Like do you understand the brevity of that Of just if all we do? Because it's not normal for any of us in recovery to be sober, if all we do is stay sober. And then we look at goals and all these other ideas that we want to do later in January, february, march, cool, like, you're winning, I'm winning. I'll take it even a step further. So many people are simply not in the headspace to deal with this hype.
Speaker 1:
Life is always life-themed, and if January 1st doesn't happen to be a time when you're ready to make a change, sweet. You get to decide when you want to make changes. You don't need social media and society telling you when you can or cannot change. If you feel like crap because you didn't post your word or intention for the year on social don't, do not feel bad. Choose your intentions or words that resonate with you when you feel like it, not when society tells you that you need to. I feel so much better after saying that, because I, too, need to give myself permission to do what feels right, and not when society says that it's time. You do not have to wait till New Year's Eve, new Year's Day, the first week of January, the first month of the new year, can make a decision. You are you and that is your gift. Seriously throw your hands in the air to society. You do you. You choose when you want to make a shift in your life. You get to choose when you want to set your intentions, and your intentions can change daily, weekly, monthly.
Speaker 1:
It doesn't have to be an intention for the year. A word for the year I mean quite honestly, if you want my honest opinion, a word for the year is boring. When intention for the year is boring, I mean because that, to me personally, says oh so you're going to feel that way the whole year and not change. Damn, that's boring. I challenge you to set multiple intentions, see what can really happen for you. Don't put yourself in a cage. Don't do it. You get to decide when you want to change and when you show up and that, my friend, is powerful. Don't let society control when you do things. You get to do you. And what a blessing that is. Ha, before we part ways, I want to remind you that help is available If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to Harmony Foundation at 970-586-4491. Just remember that together we are building better humans. All right, you guys, I'll be seeing you next week.