It’s officially mid-December, and that means that holiday celebrations are in full swing for most of us. Some of us might even have started to draw up ideas for 2024. But before we let ourselves jump ahead, it’s important to take pause and remember that 2023 isn’t quite over yet.
As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to cozy up on the couch with your favorite bevy and start your look back. Whether it was a time of triumphs, challenges, or a mix of the two, taking a step back and reviewing what you endured will help you walk into the next year with confidence. Ready to get started? Let’s get you set up to unwrap your year.
Why Take the Time to Reflect?
This time of the year is crazy busy—hosting, planning, traveling… It’s a lot! But when we don’t set aside time to reflect on our year, things have a way of continuing to move at warp speed. Dedicating time to truly sit with ourselves can be beneficial both physically and mentally. You might even come to some unexpected realizations when given the chance to slow down and breathe. If that’s not enough to convince you, take a look at these powerful reasons to reflect:
- Improved communication skills
- Greater levels of accountability
- Improved decision-making abilities
- Increased sense of control
Many of us are already overwhelmed with how much needs to get done this time of year, so it’s understandable that the idea of adding on “one more thing” might feel impossible. Interestingly enough, reflection has a way of relieving some of our mental load. In fact, you might notice that you feel quite a bit lighter after looking back and letting go.
Ways to Look Back
When it comes to gathering your thoughts and reflecting on what this past year held, there are quite a few different ways you can go about it. A personal favorite is a good old-fashioned conversation with loved ones. Strike up a chat with the people you’ve spent the most time with this year—they might be able to jog your memory or highlight some moments that you yourself may not have thought of.
Another route you can take is journaling, which is perfect for those of us that are introverted and prefer to do a solo reflection. If you find that that’s more your speed, take a peek below at some prompts to get you started:
Journal Prompts to Consider
1. Capturing 2023 in a Sentence
Describe 2023 in one single sentence. Was it a rollercoaster? A period of major growth? Jot down a sentence that encapsulates your year. Don’t overcomplicate this one—go with your gut.
2. Celebrating the Highlights
What moments stood out in your career, relationships, personal growth, or hobbies? Make a list of the top moments of your year. If you find that you have a ton of highlights, simply choose the top 3 that come to mind.
3. ‘Aha!’ Moments
What were your biggest “aha moments” of the year? These are the nuggets of wisdom that gave you clarity or changed your perspective. They might be tied to your challenges or have simply come from doing the work.
4. List Your Triumphs
You deserve to give yourself a round of applause for your achievements. What milestones did you hit in the last 12 months? It could be anything from learning a new skill to getting a recognition at work.
5. Noting the Challenges
Don’t glaze over the tough stuff, as tempting as it might be. Reflect on the hurdles that you had to overcome this year. But more importantly, focus on how you dealt with them. Who stood by you? What steps did you take to overcome these challenges? This is about celebrating how you coped, not just the struggle.
6. Reliving the Year’s Fun
Remember those trips or moments that brought you joy? Let’s relive them in this prompt. What made you laugh or truly feel alive? Focus on that and let the words flow.
7. Celebrating the Wins
Every small victory is a step towards growth. Whether it was sticking to a new habit for a week or just choosing to rest when you needed it, these wins are worth a toast!
Beyond the Prompts
If you’re wanting a bit more, following your journaling, there are some amazing reflection-style activities you can do to dig deeper.
- Take a look at photos from the year
- Scrapbook some mementos (like concert or movie tickets)
- Re-read your 2023 journal entries
- Come up with a gratitude list
- Scan through your 2023 goals
- Pick a quote that represents your year
Finally… Looking Forward
As you wrap up your year in review, think about what excites you for the year ahead. What are you looking forward to? What goals are you planning to work towards? It could be in the context of personal, professional, or otherwise. Set some gentle intentions, and step into the new year full of hope and with a fresh mindset. No matter what you endured this year, keep in mind that the next one is a blank canvas, ready to be painted.
So here’s to you, to your 2023, and to the adventures that await in 2024. Cheers to a fabulous year-end reflection, and an even more amazing year ahead!
Keywords: Grief; Loss; Loneliness; Coping with Grief during the Holidays; Self-Compassion; Self-Care
Reference:
https://www.verywellmind.com/self-reflection-importance-benefits-and-strategies-7500858
Hey, y’all! I’m Kelly…
I’m a Texas-based therapist (LPC) and offer virtual therapy for Texas residents. If you struggle with anxiety, everyday grief/loss, have a fierce inner critic, or are a do-it-all gal who struggles with balancing it ALL, I am here for You! Contact me now to schedule your free 15-minute intro call, or learn more about me here.
