Resolutions Are Out, Rebrands Are In, and I Am Completely Terrified
The end of the year is approaching and if your for you page (FYP) is anything like mine, you’re being inundated with methods to rebrand your identity in 2026. Resolutions used to be small tweaks for the year to come; make time for the gym, read more, or spend more time with friends. This year, they have evolved, for better or for worse, into a guide to elevate your personal identity and market yourself as a brand.
A resolution is only as strong as the person who made it and there is no consequence to not sticking to it. There is something incredibly wholesome about a person wanting to make a small part of their life better or more bearable while the concept of a rebrand seems devoid of humanity. The connotation alone implies that we are products to be sold for social media validation. Growth is healthy and necessary sometimes but a lot of times, it is ugly, dissonant, and uncomfortable. How can we welcome change without limiting ourselves to an aesthetic? Better yet, how can we ensure personal growth without performing for an audience?
Resolutions
Ancient Babylonians are credited with starting the practice of setting new year intentions that we now call resolutions. “The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions stretches back nearly 4,000 years,” according to National Geographic. “The Babylonians were among the first civilizations to celebrate the start of a new year, marking the occasion with festivals and rituals”.
Centuries have come and gone, however the craving for personal renovation remains strong. According to 2024 data from Pew Research Center, “less than a month into the new year, a large majority of those who made resolutions (87%) say they have kept at least some of them”.
I am moderately superstitious and slightly delusional, so I belong to the camp of individuals who try to overhaul their lives at the end of each year. I recognize that lifestyle changes don’t have to wait until January 1st but, I usually plan out a few resolutions that I want to see from myself. I have started a tradition of making a digital vision board that I set as my lock screen for the year. Some stick and some fall through, I’m human.
Some of my resolutions included; being more consistent in the gym, defining my personal style, and writing more. That said, a cutesy collage is far from a total rebrand.
Rebrands
I have noticed an uptick in creators planning rebrands for 2026, equipping themselves with multistep presentations to ensure commitment to their new self. Then subsequently selling those templates to followers so they can “level up” as well. While researching for this essay, I typed “rebranding for 2026” into my TikTok search engine and was met with, “releasing your 2025 self, defining a 2026 alter ego, and building daily subconscious habits to align with your vision” as a result.
Why would something that is rooted in self-improvement be contingent on creating an alter ego? The end goal cannot be self improvement if the process relies on an individual removing themselves. Your past self is a starting point that should not be erased. Your current self is an amalgamation of your past experiences, failures and triumphs and your future self is a collage of both your past and present. Creating an alter ego and then relying on that version of yourself to hold the key to your dream life removes accountability and credit from the you that set the goal in the first place. All of our future selves are being carved out right now.
I can’t help but think about the 2021 Pixar short, Twenty Something by Aphton Corbin. The short follows Gia on her 21st birthday but instead of celebrating at her first adult club, she spends the night personified as a 1, 10, and 16-year-old stacked in a trench coat. While navigating the insecurity and imposter syndrome that comes with adulting, all three Gia’s fight then flee to the bathroom after being exposed. Gia’s sister reminds her that while adulthood is difficult and sometimes messy, she has already accomplished so many things that she should be proud of and will only continue to impress herself. Gia emerges once again as a 21-year-old, adorning traits reminiscent of each version of herself. In this case, Gia’s inner strength does not come from rebuilding a brand new edition of herself, it comes from accepting the things that make her her. In the end, she presents as a confident, well-adjusted adult who is at peace with her past and is ready to take on her future with ferocity and purpose.
The rebrand trend is creating a point of contention within my psyche because I recognize the value is self-reflection and growth; however, I am side-eyeing any pre-packaged template that promises a better life for all. Resolutions have always been an individual sport, not something that requires group validation. What disturbs me is that the culture around a 2026 rebrand is not about what you want or what you are, it’s about what you can show.
Tracee Ellis Ross said in a 2025 interview with Emma Grede that you can’t know what you want until you know who you are. Ross encourages listeners to specifically interrogate the details of your day to ultimately design a life that brings maximum joy. What do you resent? What are your fears? What already exists in your life that lights your spark? I believe these critical questions are what’s missing from the viral rebranding framework. It is, by nature, private and not prescriptive.
This is not an attack on personal growth or on those who are brave enough to create the life they want. This is a gentle reminder that you don’t have to change on a predetermined schedule because your FYP told you to. Moreover, you don’t have to package your growth for mass appeal because change is uncomfortable and some of the most impactful life changes won’t result in an aesthetically pleasing template.
The act of leveling up perpetuates self-resentment and the push to restart year after year does nothing but promote shame. Do yourself a favor and learn from your experiences. Strengthen yourself from within by pouring into who you already are, not by creating a brand new personality. Rebranding will not make you more well liked or guarantee your success. The irony is that authenticity is tangible and most people can spot a fake from a mile away. Being your authentic, singular self will place you in the right rooms at the right time and will lead you on a path to meet the right people. Meet yourself today with consistency and patience and your flowers will bloom every time.
For me, the goal is not to be unrecognizable. One day, I want my future self to look back at the different versions of me and I hope I can recognize the blemishes, the cracks, and the bizarre things that shaped me. No need to rebrand, just build.
Recent Posts
