End-of-Year Reflection
As January presses on, all I keep thinking about 2023 is “wow, that was fast.”
Like so many others I talk to, it feels like every year passes more quickly. I blink, and it’s over. For this reason, I try not to let the year end without giving intentional thought to what happened over the last 12 months.
For the past eight years, that has looked like me, and usually one friend, journaling with some reflection prompts and then sharing with each other on New Years Eve. My favorite part though, is reading what I wrote the New Years Eve before. So often I am surprised at what I wrote and at the same time so happy that I can revisit memories I had forgotten until this moment.
So, if you’re feeling a little de-motivated or discouraged about not perfectly completing all your resolutions already…reflecting on your 2023 may be just the thing to move you toward gratitude for what was and hope for what could be in 2024.
The journaling activity is simple.
10 Highlights of the year. Of course! To remember the best parts of the year, moments I felt truly happy, excited, loved, insert your favorite positive emotion here. Writing these helps with gratitude too.
5 disappointments that occurred within the year. As someone who strives for balance in the highs and lows of life, I find it important to acknowledge the moments in the year that did not go as I hoped. As a clinician, I also know that nothing good comes from denying or minimizing the harder parts of our human experience. How can we heal if we never admit we were hurt?
3 gamechangers. This category is slightly more ambiguous - on purpose. “Gamechangers” are unexpected events/realizations/relationships that changed the course of your year. They changed the game. In fact, 2023 could have looked a lot different if these things had not happened. Gamechangers can be positive, negative, or even neutral - the common thread is that they impacted your year in an unexpected way. Here are some examples: getting a promotion at work, meeting your current partner, ending a long-term relationship, dropping out of school, etc.
If you’re a visual person like me - I’ve made a worksheet to help with this activity! Download it for free below and settle into a cozy spot to ✨ get reflective ✨
See you later!
— Sophie K
