Healing Positive Reflections on 2023 (+ free printable)
Positively letting go of the year gone by to begin with renewed energy in the NEW Year
“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” ~ Rumi
As a practice for many years now, I love to end the year by reflecting on the year that has gone by. It’s a practice that has helped me deepen my relationship with myself, it helps me learn from the experiences I’ve had this year and in general makes me more appreciative of the year that was.
For me to even begin reflecting on the year that has gone by, I have to sit with my journal. I have to look at all that I added to it in the past year and really notice where it is that I spent my energy.
Looking Back to Move Forward
Its such a great practice honestly. To really reflect on the year, I had to bring to mind everything about the year. Here’s how I did it:
- I started by looking through the files on my computer that were created in the last year. I sort it all by date and then looked through my projects. This gives me an idea of what I might have been working on, what I started but didnt finish, what still needs my energy.
- I also reviewed my Amazon orders for this 2023. It was fun and interesting to see the different books I’ve purchased(some still not read), different interests (obsessive indulgences) I’ve had over the year. Some made me chuckle and some made me question my spending 😉
- I looked over journal entries, Google Docs and keep notes (on the phone and computer). This showed me various idea notes or interesting things that caught my attention this year.
When we take stock of the year gone by it reveals things about ourselves, we would not normally notice. Like I noticed I buy more books than I can read.
This practice clarifies to me what I’ve been working on, what I’ve been so interested in, what I’ve been learning over the year, what I’ve read, where and on whom has my energy been spent. As I looked over all of this, I made notes if something struck me as ‘Aha’ ideas. You don’t have to go through as much data, but it’s interesting, and a very simple and effective way to truly get to “know” yourself.
After all the deep dive into myself, I wrote up another Journal entry titled “Reflections on 2023-Lessons learned”
Reflecting on the year has helped me to see what I’ve done over the last year, and it kind of amazes me. Some of it was so in the moment and nothing I could’ve planned. It would not even be something I couldve guessed I could do last year…but now as I reflect, I can see how I was moved to do things from a soul stirring and how it just clicked.
I also noticed how I’ve changed over the last year. In small steps, I’ve become a different person. The Zeenat from a year ago would want to be best friends with me, I think 😉
I highly recommend this year-end practice, as a way to close out the year and say goodbye to all that you’ve been through.
Reflect on…
As I reflected on what I have learned and what so many have taught me about wellness and wholeness and healing, perhaps this list is a more beneficial way to take stock of all the small moments that make up a year. And as you reflect on them, notice how it feels as you think about these in terms of the year gone by:
- Beautiful settings, things or experiences that you have seen
- A mindful moment that helped you center
- A kindness that you showed to someone
- Something hard that you did or maybe there were lots of hard things
- One way that you became more clear about who you are or what you need
- A time that you showed yourself compassion or kindness
- A time you were aware of your body and you could feel it’s power and strength
- Something new that you learned
- A way that you stretched yourself or took a risk — to try something new, to learn something or engage in something or with someone
- A time you were able to recognize your emotion and give it space and sit with it a bit more than before without being reactive or shutting it down
- A time you were able to be flexible in the face of life’s unpredictability
I hope you will spend a bit of time reflecting on some of the things above. Some may resonate with you more than others, and that is ok.
Sometimes, our minds needs a little positive nudge in truly absorbing these good things. So pick one of the items above and try to picture with many details the scene or the moment, recall the feeling of how it felt to do the thing or be in that moment.
How glorious it will feel to go into the New Year 2024 with this approach noticing the small things that make a big difference.
The best thing about coming to the end of a year is to appreciate the joys and the sorrows the year had to offer.
This practice of reflection accompanied with a deep sense of gratitude, allows us to acknowledge how we have grown and changed.
It also allows us let go of all that was holding us back and to set the tone for a new positive intention for the new year. Like Rumi said, let the the dead leaves drop from the tree, only to regrow fresh again.
Cozy Healing Ritual ❤
Below you will download 2 PDF worksheets you can use to do these year end reflection exercises. You are free to use them on your tablets, ipads or print them(recommended) to work on them slowly as the year comes to a close. Cozy up with a warm cup of coffee/tea and make it a healing self-care ritual ❤
Click the link below to download your FREE copy ❤️🦋
From my heart to yours ->🩷Click here to download POSITIVE REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR GONE BY🩷
I always love to choose a Word or Quote intention for the new year. More on that in the next post ❤
❓Question for you: How are you going to reflect on the year gone by? What resonated with you from this article? Share in the comments, I would love to hear from you.
🩷If you’d like 1-on-1 counseling sessions and spiritual guidance with me, come on over here.
With Love & Light, Zeenat Merchant Syal, M.A, M.Sc
👉An inspiring read from another wonderful writer of Hope *Healing* Humour : Karen Schwartz
