The end of the year (which also aligns with my birthday) is a natural time of introspection for me where I pause and reflect on the past year, and set some intentions for the new year.
Many people make New Year’s resolutions. I personally don’t, but I do other things that I think come from the same desire to start fresh, to commit to some type of growth or self-improvement, and to tap into a little bit of hope and optimism for the year ahead.
Let’s Start with Reflection:
Reflection is a personal journey—one that takes many forms. Some take this time to sift through accomplishments, others ponder over personal patterns and trends of the past year, and a few revisit the movies, books, or places that shaped their year. It’s a season of reminiscence, contemplation, and a heartfelt appreciation for the tapestry of experiences woven in the past months. Throughout December and January, I do this purposeful reflection with the coaches and healers in my world through discussions, visioning exercises, questions provoking introspection, journal prompts, and many other guided exercises.
The Year Ahead:
The gratitude and learnings of the past year informally and organically seep into my vision for the new year. The new year is full of possibility for adventure and discovery. Resolutions, mantras, goals, themes, aspirations —there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Similar to the reflections exercise, I ponder my desired future, my aspirations, through discussions with my own coaches and healers. Some of the questions we’ve recently delved into:
What are your biggest hopes for the next year?
How do you aspire to grow or evolve?
Where will your creative energies find expression?
What desires and aspirations do you wish to fulfill?
What personal narratives do you intend to create?
What, perhaps, should you let go of to make space for the new?
My way of bringing this all together is to select a simple theme for the year. I don’t set goals or resolutions or anything like that (I set goals a few times a year, just not for New Year’s). I think it’s great if you do if it works for you. And maybe it’s just the way I write them, but for me, they end up being a bit too action-oriented, too accomplishment oriented, and a bit too much of ‘fixing’ energy. Since I never have a problem with getting into action, perhaps that’s why goals or resolutions somehow feel too limiting. Instead, I typically have to intentionally lean into the heart-centric being side of things. My theme becomes the North Star of not what I want to do in the new year, but instead who I want to step into being. My themes also tend to allow for the natural ebbs and flows of my life. I’ve had past themes that relate more to resting and pausing, or to being more frivolous, for instance (there is much more to them than that, but you get the idea that they don’t have to be about effort).
In 2023, my theme was about being “raw and reel.” The rawness invites vulnerability, a willingness to open up and share authentically. On the reel side, it’s a play on ‘real’ of course, but it’s also about bringing that authenticity into the public sphere. The theme starts shaping who I aspire to become and then integrates with all that I do. All my yearly themes usually start in a quite literal sense and become more metaphorical and integrated as the year goes on. Unlike a set of goals, this approach allows for fluidity for me — a continual process of stepping into a more authentic self. And in my experience, my past themes have stayed true for me long past their year of emphasis.
Choosing my theme is not an arduous task; rather, it’s a gentle exploration that takes about three weeks, with insights gathered from trusted coaches in the approaches I described earlier. The result is an intentional guiding principle or value that resonates with my essence and aspirations.
As we stand on the cusp of a new chapter, I invite you to embrace the power of intentionality. Whether that’s through formal resolutions or goals or a more organic process (the key is to find what works for you), may you step into the new year with clarity and purpose.
As always, if you want to discuss any of this, feel free to reach out to me to set up a conversation. I’m also happy to share any of my former themes, or even 2024’s theme, if you’re interested. Likewise, I’d love to hear what works for you!
