Renewing Yourself in the New Year
Renewing Yourself in the New Year
(Sharing the transformative energy of the New Year, writer, storyteller, Erickson coach, and Dentist Zerrin Işık Tüfekçi offers MAG readers her reflections on the meaning of inner renewal and the powerful sense of a fresh beginning that revitalizes life.)
One of the biggest turning points for me was when I began to see my dental practice not merely as a technical profession, but as a healing journey.
Why do you think the spirit of the New Year has such a transformative effect?
The New Year spirit creates not only a sense of closure in people’s minds but also a ritual of beginnings. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we sometimes struggle to turn inward – but this mental pause gives us a momentary break. The change in the calendar evokes the universal feeling of renewal. This feeling not only gives people hope but also a desire to cleanse both their inner and outer world. Sociologically, the fact that the whole world celebrates the beginning of something at the same time creates a powerful sense of belonging. Psychologically, the idea of “renewal” is activated as the mind closes one chapter and opens another. Therefore, the new year is not just a date; it's an opportunity for emotion, renewal, and recalibration with hope. The new year also fuels the desire for change within people, because everyone experiencing a sense of renewal at the same time creates powerful collective energy. This energy becomes a driving force for transformation.
Every year, the motto “a new me” becomes popular. Is a “new me” truly possible, or is it more about remembering ourselves?
I believe that “a new me” is actually about remembering the self we’ve forgotten. People don’t radically change out of nowhere; but in the flow of life, they sometimes drift away from themselves. Rushing, responsibilities, and the pressure of time can slowly veil one's essence. The New Year serves as a beautiful invitation to lift that veil. Change is certainly possible; and when a person steps forward with courage, willingness, determination, and faith, profound transformations can happen. The first step of every transformation is a person returning to themselves. I see this in dentistry as well: The goal of a smile design is not to completely transform someone, but to reveal the version of them that makes them feel their best. In life, too, when a person makes room for their true self, transformation begins naturally.
At what moment can a person say, “Now I can start over”?
People usually find themselves ready to start over during some form of inner rupture: sometimes a great loss, sometimes a profound realization, or a silent threshold of completion… Starting again doesn’t require big crises. When a person simplifies their consciousness — reducing the noise in their life and clarifying their focus — a powerful space for transformation opens. When someone reaches a point where they can no longer silence their inner voice, or when they honestly admit that their current state is no longer serving them, they can press the restart button. Starting over doesn’t happen all at once; it begins with intention and grows through small steps. Because whatever a person places at the center of their attention begins to shape their life in that direction. Focus works like a compass; it guides thoughts, behaviors, and habits. That’s why, if the desire for renewal is there, the collective energy of the New Year becomes an incredible opportunity.
Has there been a turning point in your own life when “starting over” became meaningful to you?
One of the biggest turning points for me was when I began to see my dental practice not merely as a technical profession, but as a healing journey. Over time, I realized that improving someone's oral health actually means improving their quality of life. When someone is unhappy with their smile, even their self-confidence, social interactions, and self-expression shift. The moment I stopped seeing my profession only as technical expertise and started seeing it as a journey that elevates people’s lives, I reshaped many things about myself as well. When your perspective changes, you change — and everything can begin again. The moment I renewed my approach to my career through this holistic lens, it became the beginning of not only rebuilding my profession, but also rebuilding myself. Human growth never truly ends; both professionally and personally, we are in a constant process of evolution.
New Year resolutions are often forgotten within a few weeks. What kind of intention or ritual can make them more lasting?
For New Year resolutions to be lasting, goals must transform from a mere “to-do list” into a feeling, a purpose. There is a big difference between saying “I will exercise” and saying “I want to feel light in my body.” I tell my patients the same thing: “If you connect with the process, it becomes sustainable.” Simplifying the mind is also a key element. The more stimuli there are, the harder it is to stay focused. Rituals like setting intentions regularly, making small reminders for yourself, and celebrating even tiny steps of progress help support this simplification. Steps taken with courage, determination, willingness, and faith make even the smallest changes sustainable. A person must walk their path with belief and compassion. The New Year offers a beautiful framework for this choice — but truly, any day of the year can be a new beginning if one wishes. The most important thing is to be gentle with yourself. Perfectionism kills decisions; real change grows through understanding.
If you were to offer one guiding sentence to someone who wants to begin 2026 with hope, what would you say?
As we enter 2026, trust the quiet wisdom within you; when you direct your focus toward what you want to heal, the universe aligns your steps with the intention of your heart, and gracefully opens the most blessed path for your journey.
