When life gets on top of you, it is tempting to think you can take a break from everything and start afresh. It is why so many people make New Year's resolutions. There is this idea that a new year is the ideal time to make a fresh start. You commit yourself to the idea of losing weight, changing jobs, getting fitter, finding a relationship or some other significant change which will have a bearing on your life. There is nothing wrong with deciding to do something that could improve your situation, but look at how many people fail to achieve their objectives. By the time it's February the motivation to stick to a diet or hunt for a new job wanes and, generally, the inclination is to give up.
Not everyone waits until the New Year to make a fresh start, but whatever time of year is chosen, there is a belief that you can almost break from the past. However, if you've struggled with your weight all your life, dieting one minute and overindulging the next, what are the chances that this time is going to be any different? You can't just erase what went before. That doesn't mean you can't achieve success, but when you look at weight loss, many people lose weight only to gain it back again. Unless you do something to fundamentally address your lifestyle and the way you see yourself, deciding that you need a fresh start is unlikely to lead to success.
Making a fresh start doesn't have to relate to your weight or appearance. It might be that you want to escape - to move somewhere else and find a new job; to socialise more and meet new people. If you're not happy with the person you are, getting out of town may give you an opportunity to change, but there are certain aspects of yourself that are immutable. If you're an introvert, you're not suddenly going to turn into an extrovert and seek out human companionship. You may not be happy that you're perceived as a loner, but if it feels that mixing with other people is more hassle than it's worth, then it's going to be impossible to find the motivation to change.
Leaving home gives you an opportunity to establish yourself as someone different, but you can never really escape your past. It might be possible to designate the changes you make in your life as a 'fresh start,' but in most cases you can't just completely overhaul your life without carrying some baggage with you. You can change the scenery and your friends, but you're still shaped by events in your life and the people you've come into contact with. It's not as though you can erase all your memories and thoughts and start from scratch. However, if you're unhappy with your situation, it is surely better to attempt to make changes to your life than to continue feeling miserable, even if it isn't a completely fresh start.
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