Falling for the Illusion of Reinvention

By Harper Sabin

The arrival of fall invites us to start fresh—new clothes, routines and habits, beauty products, you name it. However, in the midst of our chaotic lives and persistent overconsumption of media, have we ever stopped to question why we romanticize the idea of change so much? Are we striving toward genuine growth, or something that pop culture and large industries have trained us to crave? 

Seasonal shifts have long signaled a cultural urge for self-reinvention. With Halloween approaching, we are prompted to focus on appearances—what costume to wear and what diet to follow in order to fit into it. As New Year’s nears, our drafted resolutions cause panic of looming deadlines coming to a close. These moments are marketed as opportunities for self-improvement, covering up the real culprit: a relentless push for overconsumption. Whether it is a new skin care product, weight loss fad or wellness facade, it is all masked as essential to “becoming better” rather than addressing real fulfillment. 

emmie / @emmiepalacios on Pinterest

Following this cycle creates a rising tension between expectation and reality. These unrealistic expectations that a superficial change will fix all our problems encourage us to believe that we not only don’t have it in ourselves to become the best you, but that instant gratification is more important than long-term growth. As a result, the notion of change becomes a security blanket to hide our real problems. Material change takes consistency, patience and discomfort. 

This brings us to our crucial point: romanticizing change as a form of escapism from our own dissatisfaction is not a healthy coping mechanism. If we only bank on immediate gratification to soothe our insecurities, we will only continue to put off deeper goals. 

So, this fall, pause before buying into the “need” for a fresh start. Ask yourself, “Does this serve the longevity of my goals, or simply feed into the cycle of overconsumption?” True growth is not seasonal, and it will not be marked by the next big holiday approaching. Don’t wait around for the next magical solution to fix you and stick to slow, promising progress.