As the year closes, the volume turns up. “New year, new me.” New goals. New habits. New versions of ourselves—fast. But here’s the truth most people aren’t naming: The New Year rush is often a stress response, not inspiration. When we leap into resolutions without pausing, we’re usually operating from an activated nervous system, trying to escape discomfort, disappointment, grief, or fatigue from the year that just ended. We override the body, ignore the signals, and call it