Hi Teresa,
I started the year excited and full of good intentions and New Year’s resolutions. But somehow, the energy fizzled fast – and now I feel unmotivated, disappointed in myself, and unsure how to begin again. Is it too late to restart with a different mindset?
– Trying to Begin Again
Dear Trying,
First, take a deep breath. You are not alone – and you are not behind. In fact, what you’re feeling is incredibly common. January often begins with a burst of optimism, only to crash into the quiet weight of winter, old habits, and the invisible pressure to transform overnight.
Let’s start here: the fizzled energy doesn’t mean failure – it’s part of a cycle most of us go through. Studies show that nearly 80% of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions by mid-February. That’s not because we’re broken – it’s because we often mistake the spark of a new beginning for sustainable fuel. After the emotional high of the holidays and the symbolic clean slate of January 1st, we feel a natural urge to ride that wave into big changes. But life quickly reasserts itself – the laundry piles up, the days are dark, and we’re left wondering where all that energy went.
One powerful way to stay grounded without getting overwhelmed is to choose a theme for this season of your life, rather than rigid goals. A theme works like a compass: it points you toward the kind of life you want to live, without punishing you for the pace. Maybe your theme is self-respect, or nourishment, or peace over pressure. When your actions are tied to how you want to feel – not just what you want to achieve – they become more sustainable. You’re no longer chasing perfection – you’re practicing alignment.
Psychologist Kristin Neff reminds us that self-compassion isn’t about letting ourselves off the hook – it’s about staying connected to ourselves, even when we stumble. Instead of thinking, “I’ve failed again,” try asking, “What would it look like to treat myself with care as I keep going?” We don’t grow by shaming ourselves into change. We grow when we create an inner environment of kindness, clarity, and patience – the same qualities we’d offer to someone we love.
Beginning again isn’t a weakness. It’s a practice – one that gets stronger each time you return to it with love instead of judgment. You haven’t lost your chance. You’ve just been offered a new one.
Have a question you’d like Teresa to answer in a future column? Write to teresagrecoaching@gmail.com and include “Advice Column” in the subject line.
Teresa Greco is an international TEDx speaker, certified happiness life coach, bestselling author, and Ph.D. student. She helps people reclaim their inner happiness through science-backed strategies and soul-aligned practices. Learn more at teresagreco.ca. Connect with her on Instagram @teresagreco_stepstohappiness, Facebook at Steps to Happiness with Teresa Greco, LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/teresagreco/, and YouTube @teresagreco_stepstohappiness — and watch her new show The Happy Hour with Teresa Greco on the True Patriot Love platform on YouTube @TPL_media and www.tplmedia.ca/.
