The Myth of the "Fresh Start" (And Why We Love the Expression)

"Clean slate." "Fresh start." "New year, new me."

We hear these phrases everywhere in January, and there’s a reason we love them. The idea of a fresh start feels like a deep exhale. It offers us a momentary relief from the weight of our history, our mistakes, and the parts of ourselves we struggle with. It’s a psychological "reset button" that promises we can leave the heavy stuff behind.