What’s going on with us, people? My feed is FULL with stories, reels, where everyone and their mother is shouting that they are starting a ‘journey’ of some sort to either ‘find themselves,’ or establish a persona that they realized they needed like 5 seconds ago. This is some sort of identity crisis on a global scale, and I’m not happy about it. Usually, when I’m not happy about something, I start digging. So, here it comes. I can’t guarantee you’ll stick around, but I’ll try to hold your attention for longer than 10 seconds without you realizing ‘this is not who I want to be.’
Before I start the whole rant, let me just say, we’re talking about mentally healthy individuals who do not suffer from any kind of dissociative disorder.
Reinvention Is A Modern Invention
Yes, so is central heating, and taking a hot shower, so I’m not going to diss us modern people for being too pampered. Scr*w that, I’m just trying to get to the answer. Why do I need a ‘new me’ to feel like ME again? I’m asking because editing video content for social media is not like editing a personality, you know…
New hair, new aesthetic, new gym routine, new personality, where does it start to become weird? I can’t speak for men, because I’m a woman, but for us, coming up with a new hairstyle is often nothing more than a new hairstyle. Just to freshen things up, without major changes to our lives. Ok, except for the times when we go all G.I. Jane (ignore the socially charged pun) and decide that a pixie cut is the best remedy for a nasty breakup. Please continue.
Anyways, changes can be minor (haircuts, new clothes, new makeup routine), just keep our partners on their toes, accentuate our best features, etc.
What I mean by ‘reinvention’ is the constant need to put ourselves in a certain box while claiming that we’re unique. Isn’t that just annoying??
You don’t need to categorize yourself at all, let alone putting yourself in new little boxes every other weekend. You’re outgoing, but then you decide to try on an ‘introvert’ mask. Are you going to the gym for two weeks now? Wow… How novel of you… Well, now, why do you feel the need to identify as a ‘sporty Susie’ now, if you’re the same ‘accountant Susie’ who works out? Own it! Don’t identify with anything outside yourself, and thank me later.
Reinvention used to follow life changes (new city, breakup, career shift, whatever). Now it happens on a random Tuesday because the vibes felt off.
Micro-rebrands explained
Friends, hobbies, and all outside factors constantly come and go. Well, hopefully not friends, cuz that’s a bit sad. But look at the overall principle. I think it’s in part about attention span. Our attention span (by ‘us’ I mean GenZ and younger) has significantly shrunk. I won’t go into the reasons behind it, but let’s just state it as a fact, shall we?
Attention spans are shorter, and there are fewer things in life that hold our interest. Hobbies change with the calendar, have you noticed? Meanwhile, to get good at something, to develop a skill, we need time and focus! That’s why we leave hobbies so quickly! 1,2,…10… Doesn’t work the way I wanted? BYE!
But hold on, the same goes for people very often. We have become disposable. Swipe right, swipe left. Have a disagreement? BYE!
Wait, that’s too quick. That’s why I feel like we have to be SOMEONE NEW for each passing month. Because we take everything around as a draft, and not the real deal.
The algorithm rewards becoming someone else
Social Media platforms encourage visible change. Sure, because consistency is boring, and transformation performs better. It sounds rude, but I think that’s true. The NEW YEAR NEW ME idea… What nonsense! Why should you be new? Yes, there are things all of us need to change. Sure, there are. But that doesn’t mean it’s a new YOU now! That’s the point.
Reinvention becomes content instead of personal growth. That’s my main objection, not the change itself.
Aaand personality change is a rare enough unicorn and requires focus, commitment and repetition way beyond a few weeks.
Today’s internet culture treats identity as editable. Nothing has to stick. You can try on versions of yourself like outfits, which, admittedly, is liberating and destabilizing at the same time. You can do whatever the h*ll you want, just please call it by its proper name. Performance. Don’t call it the new you.
Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt
I feel like I have to justify the rant a little at this point.
I don’t think change is bad.
But I do think that what we often call ‘new me’ is a performance, and not a change. It’s much faster, much easier, and it can play a ‘change’ extremely well. Little poser. Again, we can play all we want. We’re grown people with a job and everything. Just don’t forget about Honesty. To yourself first, then to others.
Plus, I think lots of rapidly changing posing signifies fear. Fear of stagnation, maybe, fear of comparison, and the sense that staying the same equals falling behind. Ambient anxiety, the specialists call it. Plus, uncertainty is a human condition, and we have to live with it.
How can we overcome this little obstacle?
Simplicity and self-reflection, in my opinion.
When we stop comparing ourselves to others’ perfect image on social media, when we refuse to fit in boxes that were not made for people to fit in, when we spend some considerable time alone with our thoughts (without gadgets), when we maintain friendships through hardships (not just situationships) we might just come close to realizing who we actually are and what we want.
Sometimes the most radical thing is staying recognizable to yourself. You don’t need a new era. You might just need a nap and a night out with friends.
