I love the time between Christmas and New Year to pause, take a deep breath and ponder on all the things I am grateful for in life. Taking it all in. The good the bad and the ugly about the year that was. Focusing on the good. Letting the wave of gratitude that comes with reflection drive thoughts for what I need from 2025 and how I am going to get there. Treat yourself to a nice new journal, with space for reflection, ponderings and ways to capture intentions.
Find yourself a journal to capture your thoughts as they arise. A journal that feels special, that is yours, that is accessible to come back to.
My word for 2025 is ENOUGH – a powerful reminder that we are complete, worthy, and whole, exactly as we are.
Whats your word for 2025?
See the blog below for some reflection questions and further resources.
RETROSPECTIVE REFLECTION
The Year Line Exercise
Think back chronologically to Jan 2024 and list the key activities you engaged in per month. Draw a horizonal line across the page to track your emotional experiences. For example a peak above the line indicates a positive emotion, and a dip below signifies challenges or difficulties. This exercise helps you create an emotional inventory and allows you to make sense of your experiences.
Reflection Questions
Find an environment and a time for you that helps you to be thoughtful, honest, and curious. As you answer each question, set yourself a five-minute timer for each question to help you to think more deeply, and use your calendar for data so you’re not relying only on your most recent experiences.
- What 1-3 words sum up 2024?
- What have I learned the most this year?
- What have I found the most fulfilling?
- What have I found the most frustrating?
- What do I feel most proud of?
- Who has helped me be at my best?
- What are my key strengths that have contributed to my success?
- What’s the one thing I wish I’d done differently?
- What inner voice / confidence gremlins have held you back or got in your way?
The 4 box Model
THINKING AHEAD
After taking the time and effort to evaluate your year, you can then turn the awareness you’ve gained into useful action for the future. This isnt about having a long (and possibly unrealistic!) to-do lists, but some intentions that feel realistic.
deliberately definitive, using “I will” to frame your thinking. We suggest saving your answers somewhere you will see them frequently to act as a regular reminder.
- One motivating word for me for 2025 to be my guiding star.
- One learning goal for me professionally
- One learning goal for me privately
- One habit for me to really commit to
- One person I want to have more conversations with
- One mistake to not make again
And finally, write down in a few sentences what you want to be proud of achieving in 2025. Address this to yourself to open on Dec 1st 2025.
RESOURCES
This is a free booklet that helps you reflect on the year and plan for the next one.
And here are some of my favourite articles from Harvard Business review on the topic of year end reflections and New Year Goals and Intentions.
https://hbr.org/2022/03/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-self-reflection
https://hbr.org/2025/01/will-you-make-good-on-your-new-years-resolution
0 Comments