As the year draws to a close, it is only natural to pause and let the reflections on the last 12 months set you up for the new year ahead. This act of looking back can be both humbling and empowering — a chance to acknowledge milestones, learn from challenges, and carry forward the wisdom you have gained. As each year is a chapter in our lives, filled with moments of joy, sorrow, growth, and discovery the reflections help us close one chapter and prepare for the next with intention and purpose.
So let’s dive in. In this blog I ask you to reflect on the year gone by looking into these 3 areas and answering some key questions:
1. Acknowledge milestones
The year gone likely offered reasons to celebrate. Reflecting on achievements — whether big or small — allows you to see how far you have come. Maybe it was a new skill learned, a meaningful connection deepened, or a personal goal achieved. Please take a moment to acknowledge these victories, and remind yourself of your capacity to overcome and succeed. Here are some questions to get you started:
- What skills or knowledge have you gained this year?
- What habits have you cultivated that have positively impacted your life?
- How have you grown emotionally, mentally, or physically?
- How have you nurtured your relationships with family, partner, friends, or colleagues?
- What have you done differently compared to how you would normally do things?
2. Learnings from challenges
The year gone by may have been filled with unexpected twists and turns, reminding you that life is anything but predictable. Perhaps there were moments where things didn’t go as planned — times when you had to pivot or face uncertainties. It is important to honor these moments, not as failures, but as learnings and opportunities for growth. Here are some questions to guide you:
- What were the challenges you faced this year and what emotions did you experience while going through them?
- What did they teach you about yourself, your strengths or weaknesses?
- Did any experience reveal any blind spots or areas where you could grow?
- What skills or perspectives did you develop as a result of navigating these challenges?
3. Carry forward the wisdom you have gained
Reflection is not just about looking back; it is also about setting intentions for the future. Carrying insights forward can help you step into the new year with newfound wisdom, which you can use to set purposeful intentions for the year ahead.
- What insights do you want to carry forward into the new year?
- What are the habits, mindsets, and actions that led to progress that you can double down on in the new year?
- What can you leave behind — fears, habits, or mindsets that no longer serve you?
As you step into the new year, your reflections become the foundation for growth, reminding you that each ending is also a new beginning. The turning of the calendar is not just a mark of time but an opportunity — a chance to bring the best of the year gone into the blank slate of the future.
Step forward into the new year with hope, courage, and the wisdom you have gained.
Please contact me if you would like help in understanding how we could work together to set the intentions for the new year that will shape a purposeful life for the years to come.
With love,
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