By Keri Nola, MA, LMHC
Another year has passed gifting us with an additional collection of memories, transitions, and events to add to our life’s experience. In order to integrate these happenings and successfully move forward, it is helpful for us to find meaningful ways to reflect on the steps we’ve taken over the year, celebrate our progress, and establish our intentions for the year ahead.
This year I invite you to consider using a few questions to guide you in a gentle, mindful end of the year ritual that welcomes compassion and supports you in moving forward in the direction you deserve and desire.
Reflect
- What have I learned this year?
- What am I proud of myself for this year?
- What aspects of myself have I discovered and embraced?
End of the year reflections allow us to gently remember, acknowledge, and honor events, experiences and progress that occurred throughout the year. You may consider writing these down to revisit at a later time, or just reminisce about them mentally. I will say it can be an enriching experience to review our yearly reflections from one year to the next as it provides a unique way to “zoom out” and capture a glimpse at the bigger picture of our experiences.
Celebrate
- How can I honor and celebrate the progress I’ve made in my personal evolution this year?
- Is there anyone I want to invite to join me in my celebration?
- Who can I express gratitude to for being a part of my journey this year?
Celebrations are an important aspect of our progress. Too often we focus on the places we believe we have fallen short and forget to acknowledge the valuable steps we have in fact taken in the direction of our highest purpose. Personalize a celebration ritual that honors YOU.
Intend
- In 2013, I intend to…
- My hope for myself in the New Year is…
- This coming year I give myself permission to…
- In the New Year, I choose to let go of…
I prefer intention setting to the more traditional resolution making as this ritual is less oriented with the judgment of success or failure, but rather assists us in aligning with the energy of our desires, which helps us be more capable of inviting them into being.
May your reflections, celebrations, and intentions support you in journeying inward and reconnecting with your most authentic self as you transition into the year ahead.
Keri Nola is author of “A Year on Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect with Your Soul,” and founder of Path to Growth LLC, a Central Florida-based integrative healing center that blends traditional and holistic techniques for journeys to peace. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nola provides psychotherapy and facilitates therapeutic retreats for those seeking to reconnect with their inner wisdom, particularly after trauma or loss. She also offers heart-inspired business consultations for healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.pathtogrowth.com, on Facebook and Twitter @pathtogrowth.
NOTE: Picture of Keri Nola by Monica Alfonso