A year has passed and a new one unfolds before us. As always, a new year is an opportunity to reflect on the past and open ourselves to the future. Whether your last year was fantastic and full of good memories, or if it was hard and rough, there is always something that can be learned. Here are some things to reflect on from the past year to remember and meditate on for the upcoming year.
- The good and the bad
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Last year’s memories can inspire you for what’s to come. Positive reminiscences, encourage you to continue to seek out good times to reproduce fun memories. Unpleasant experiences can be seen as a learning opportunity to reflect and avoid.
- The lessons learned
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So that you don’t make them again. As Stephen King wrote in his book On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft, “you learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot, and the most valuable lessons of all are the ones you teach yourself.” Take the outcomes and turn them into lessons that help you grow!
- The challenges achieved and unaccomplished
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Difficulties you have faced should be recognized and celebrated so that you feel proud of yourself for what you’ve done. On top of that, continue to challenge yourself in the new year to continue pushing yourself towards achieving goals and desires. As for the challenges you didn’t overcome, learn from them and don’t get discouraged.
- The people who marked you last year
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The people in your life last year must have affected you in some way. Reflecting on why and how they have impacted you, either negatively or positively, can help you strive to pursue that relationship or end it.
- Don’t be afraid to let go of the things that caused you pain
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A new year is a chance to start fresh, so don’t bring anything along that you wish to leave behind. Open your heart to the new, while leaving the old and unwanted, in the past.
- The experiences you were lucky to have
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Practicing gratitude for the opportunities, experiences you’ve had, and the material things you own is a way to not take things for granted and to be more humble. Overall, being thankful makes you feel happier, more aware and a kinder person.