Year-End Reflection to honor the past year
December 2023
Although December can be busy with end-of-year activities and holiday responsibilities, it is also a great time to reflect on the past year and prepare ourselves for the new year to come. Amongst the hustle and bustle, it’s helpful to take a few moments to acknowledge the accomplishments and learnings of the past 12 months, no matter how big or small. It’s important to recognize what we’ve done, but also who we’ve become.
I’ve pulled together a framework to help in your reflections to consider different aspects of the past year. I encourage you to sit with these questions and write down your responses. Come back to these thoughts a couple of times to fully capture the essence of 2023 for you. Pay attention to your thoughts and emotions, and welcome everything that may show up. Here we go!
Reflect on Your Experiences
What significant events were you involved in during the past year?
Go through this past year’s calendar and the photos on your phone to capture important events, get-togethers, milestones, and meaningful moments.
What impact did these experiences have on you?
Reflect on Your Actions & Decisions
What were your biggest accomplishments and contributions during the year?
What was a new habit or routine you created?
What other changes did you implement that impacted your work and/or life (financially, emotionally, physically, environmentally, spiritually, etc.)?
How did you follow through or pivot on goals you may have set for 2023?
What’s something you removed from your life/work and are thankful you did?
Reflect on Your Growth
What skills did you develop or strengthen?
How have your responses to situations or people changed over the past year?
Where were you brave or found yourself stepping out of your comfort zone?
What lessons have you learned?
Reflect on Your Energy
How would you summarize the vibe of the past year?
When did you feel happiest/most fulfilled over the past year, and why?
How are you different now than when you started the year?
Hopefully you are celebrating most of what you are seeing in your reflections. If any judgments about the past year creep in, notice that and grant yourself some grace. Reframe those thoughts as opportunities for 2024. What events do you want to experience in the NEXT 12 months and what impact do you want to have? What new goals do you want to consider? How do you want to continue to grow? What do you want to cultivate as the vibe for 2024?
Say farewell to the past year and set your intentions for the new one. I, for one, am excited about what 2024 has in store.
