Reinvention: buzzword of our generation
Reinvention. It’s a buzzword in this generation, with its positive connotations of newness and self-betterment, it fits perfectly into our excessively over-consumptive culture. It’s something that we all seem to strive for in anticipation for New Year’s Day. Regardless of how you choose to reinvent yourself each year, each time 1st January comes around, so too does the pressure to do something bigger and better — to make this year the best year yet. And yet, fast forward into six weeks or so of the year and we are met with the familiar feeling of inevitability and disappointment — that our resolution goals have fallen through. The issue with reinvention is that in its grand perception of a break away from the past, it creates unrealistic conditions. In fact, I’d argue that attempts for flat-out reinvention are detrimental to our goals. When we do not achieve our often, already unreachable goal, we are less inclined to attempt to break up the goal into bite-sized chunks, and instead accept failure.
Like all the good things in life, long-term and impactful change requires consistency and more importantly, a realistic approach. This does not mean reinvention is unachievable, far from it. What it does mean however, is that there is no quick fix — it doesn’t occur in the seconds between 11:59 and 00:00, but is produced with a series of successes, failures, patience and persistence in the goal you seek to achieve.
Instead of viewing reinvention as a break with the past as suggested in classic understandings of the concept, I believe reinvention should be seen in conjunction with the accumulation of our experiences, but moreover as a continuation of our individual experiences. There is far more to be learnt from what we got wrong, than what we got right.
When we reinvent, we should be acknowledging our past, making it peace with it, and altering our habits through gradual and pragmatic goals and expectations. No one goes to the gym for the first time and squats 100kg (they might exist, and if they do we need to get them here for a Ted Talk), but give it a year of consistent training and they will find that not only can they squat incredible amounts, but their body has undoubtedly changed too. The point being that often we cannot see the change until we look back at a particular time and realise that progress that has been made. Reinvention instead, can come and surprise us. Before we know it, we’ve changed for the better.
As a student, university seemed like a great platform to reinvent myself. When I began first year, excessive alcohol consumption and seemingly endless nights out promised at least a reinvention of my character for the night. Fast forward a few years and I now recognise the value in finding reinvention in my daily habits — waking up early, meditation, and prioritising my own productivity have allowed me to witness a transition from a less-than organised version of myself in my first year, to a now an ever so slightly more productive version of myself. The persistent implementation of small daily habits have undeniably contributed to a more conducive lifestyle that allows more confidence in my work and social life. That, for me, is reinvention.
Reinvention is a process, and it should be nurtured in every peak and trough that it produces. In our current climate, failure is hidden from view with only successes reaching the fore of our social media platforms. It is essential to remember the beauty of growth and the bumps that it inevitably entails along the way. In practicing this, reinvention will cease to be a large and intimidating phenomenon, and instead be welcomed as a force and a process that is fluid and welcome to realistic goals.
Attend our salon on Reinvention: Redefining now, 27 November 4:30–6:30pm at the Ramphal Building, University of Warwick.
