Taking Stock of 2022 With Reflective Rituals
Out with the old and in with the new, right? With the New Year quickly approaching, we are all amping ourselves up to set new goals and make a game plan for how we are going to achieve them. But, before you choose your resolutions for the upcoming year, may we suggest slowing down and taking some time to reflect on the last 12 months?
As we wind down from our holiday celebrations and start planning for the New Year, it’s easy to jump straight to goal setting. We allow our minds to start thinking about everything we want to accomplish in the next 12 months before we complete the important step of reflecting on the last year. We know, it may feel a little slow and tedious to take time for reflection, but as Peter Drucker put it, “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” In other words, taking time to reflect on how far you’ve come in the last year will set you up to be even more successful in the coming year.
When it comes down to it, reflection is about becoming more self-aware, which in turn gives us the opportunity to celebrate our successes and lays the groundwork for the self-improvement we are looking to achieve. When we reflect, we are able to look back on our successes and struggles. We are able to examine what worked and what didn’t work. We are able to clarify our values and purpose, and we are able to let all of this information inform our goals, making us more likely to achieve them.
In short, taking the time now to reflect will set the stage for you to start the New Year off on the right foot. If you’re not sure how to go about reflecting on the last year, then consider giving one of these reflection rituals a try.
1. Create a vision board
We know, making a vision board sounds like something you do when you’re planning for the future, not reflecting on the past, but the process of creating a vision board can encourage reflection as well. Instead of immediately filling your board with your plans for the future, be more thoughtful about what you choose. Look back at what has worked for you in the past and what you struggled with, then use that to help you craft your vision for the coming year.
If you haven’t created a vision board before, keep in mind that there are no set rules. You can fill it with words, quotes, graphics, photos, drawings, or any other kind of imagery you choose. You can create it digitally or get out the scissors and get crafty with it. The important part is taking your mind through the process of reflection and allowing it to envision how you can use the lessons you’ve already learned to create the future you want for yourself.
What’s more? Having your 2023 goals displayed visually will also help you continue the reflection process throughout the year. It will serve as a reminder of your intentions and will encourage you to reflect on your progress every time you look at it.
2. Declutter & Clear Your Space
There is something to be said about starting a New Year with a clean slate, and clearing the clutter from your life, both physically and mentally, can help you do just that.
Not only will taking the time to declutter give you a clean slate, but it will also give you ample opportunity to reflect. As you decide which items will stay and which will go, you will start seeing some of the habits you’ve created related to shopping, organizing, and cleaning so you can consider if those are habits you would like to keep moving forward. As you declutter, you will also uncover items that you’ve collected over the last year, which will help unearth memories and naturally lead you down the path of reflection. When it comes to physical decluttering, some of the most impactful places to start are your wardrobe, your kitchen pantry, and your digital files.
Of course, these items aren’t the only thing that needs to be decluttered on occasion. Sometimes your mind needs a little help getting rid of things too. Spending time reflecting on your thoughts, clearing the clutter, and refocusing your mind can help you both look back at your past and plan for your future. Meditating, spending time outdoors, and journaling are some of the best tools at your disposal to help you clear your mind of unnecessary clutter.
3. Journaling
Speaking of journaling, there is a lot of power in the act of putting pen to paper and expressing your thoughts and emotions. You can freely write about your memories from the past year, both good and bad, as they pop into your mind, or, if you’d like a little guidance, you can use some of these prompts to help you get started.
- What were your highlights in each month of the year?
- What was your proudest moment in 2022?
- What was your biggest challenge?
- What’s one new thing you learned about yourself?
- What was your favorite book/music/movie from the year, and how did it make you feel?
- Is there a hobby you tried for the first time this year? How did it go?
- What one behavior do you want to leave behind as we move into a new year?
- Who did you enjoy spending time with this past year?
- How have you changed over the last year, and how do you want to grow over the next?
Building the Future with Lessons from the Past
Reflection allows you to neutrally look at your thoughts, feelings, and actions, which in turn gives you ample information to help you set meaningful and achievable goals for yourself. So as we enjoy the last few days of 2022, take the time to slow down, reflect, and let your experiences inform your goals and resolutions moving forward.
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