Your year, in review
New Years is a perfect time to set new goals, but there is something equally important about looking at your year in review. One year holds so much: successes and set backs, things to learn from and inspire you. I like to journal about my year to acknowledge the things that didn’t go well and also revisit the good in my life. Reflection can help give you direction and clarity for what you want to do next.
Read on for tips on thinking about your year, in review, or scroll down to the free journal download to get you started.
The best things that happened this year
Think about the places you went, the people you spent time with, the beautiful things you saw. Were there times you felt completely at peace? In awe? Proud? Are there particularly special photos, videos or mementos that captured these times?
Describe and elaborate on special moments to let memories surface again. I want to give my experiences the justice they warrant. Capturing the essence of positive vibes in your life boosts your happiness now and anytime you want to go back and reminisce by looking at your writings, photos, artwork, or anything else that triggers good feelings.
Memories can be big and grand, but they can also be small. Keeping the times that make you smile alive is worth it.
There were so many moments that made me happy this year that I might write about:
- Watching the fireworks from the top of a roller coaster on a warm summer night, laughing with my kids
- Taking inappropriate pictures with statues all over Philadelphia with my friends and (again) laughing
- Lazy nights binge-watching Game of Thrones with my husband after the kids had gone to bed
- Eating delicious things, like the creamy ube gelato I can’t stop thinking about, crisp salad fresh from my garden, or the deep pho broth I made with the last of my steer’s bones.
I could go on and on about my gelato. The point is that thinking about these memories extends the benefit you get from your best moments. So do what you can to bring them to light again; don’t let them be packed away forever in the vault of your mind.
This year’s challenges
Everybody has goals unmet, barriers uncrossed, and unwelcome setbacks. But it is possible to move past these things in order to make new plans for how you want your life to be and feel. Blowing past the negatives takes these experiences for granted and squanders any learning opportunity you might get from them.
- Think about the things that didn’t go your way, but leave them in past tense–these experiences as they stand aren’t intended to be a part of your future. Even if you can’t change a negative outcome you can always reframe you attitude and have new ways for moving forward.
- Acknowledge your feelings, worries, and hurts but let it be cathartic. Don’t carry the weight of bad energy into the next year. Sometimes writing things down and having a good sigh or cry is therapeutic.
- Say your goodbyes to old habits and thought cycles that damaged your mood and self-worth. Make a conscious commitment to break up with the patterns that no longer suit you.
This past year I had a few stand-out struggles, as well as some disappointments. I dealt with heart issues that kept me from vigorous exercise, including my beloved long runs. I had 5 different bosses in a 9 month period, with a resulting lackluster annual review, as there was no one there to witness my accomplishments. There were arguments with my kids. My husband had to leave full time work due to a shoulder injury. But everything isn’t so bad, really. And that was this year’s issues, so it’s time to move on!
A review of the setbacks this year can be ceremonious as you move past the past. I feel more positive already, just knowing that next year won’t have the exact same problems since I have grown from my experiences.
Learning from your year and planning for the next one
In order to reframe the negatives you must give yourself credit, for being wise enough to learn from your mistakes and creative enough to come up with a new plan. I feel energized by identifying old patterns in my behavior and finding different systems that could work better.
What have you already done?
If you have already made strides for the positive, take a moment to point them out and be grateful.
Finding the gaps
- What was missing your old way of thinking?
- Is there new information you need? Things you must practice or study?
- What behaviors need replacing?
A new plan
- For every negative, think about a few positive actions you are taking (or will take) to counteract the effects. Focus on actions and habits, concrete steps you can take for the better.
- Be specific about self discovery. If you’ve realized things about yourself or are curious about learning something new, state it. Be directive about who you are and where you want to be, starting now.
- Look at next year as a blank slate, but take the experience and wisdom of the past forward. Be aware of ways you can build on what you have, using your strengths to your advantage.
It may feel like year in and year out your problems stay the same, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Every year has its glory days, it’s gutter balls, and it’s aha moments. But we are better for having experienced it in the first place.
Want more on your year, in review?
Try this free journal download for a more structured look a your year in review.
I also have additional posts to help with New Year’s journal ideas, from reflection to goal planning.
For those who want general advice on making your dreams a reality:
On different ways to outline and thresh out your goals
For making a statement on the year to come
Brand your year: live your resolution for change
On keeping positive, to use when you want to move past the downturns