Reflections from the Previous Year – Bringing Strength, Joy & Happiness to the New Year

Coming to the end of a year can be rather overwhelming, exciting and daunting. At the same time, you are wondering where has the time gone, what have you achieved, and what have you done during this time. This is what I like to call the time of reflection. It is important to reflect and to take time to bring to your conscious mind just what you have managed to achieve taking into consideration your mind, body and the emotional aspects of your life.

By reflecting on the year, there will be times of change that you have coped with, there will be times for some of grief, maybe mixed with sadness and some traumatic moments, I hope blended in with some very special, happy moments.

You may be feeling overwhelmed and anxious that you didn’t save the money that you had planned. You may have wanted to lose a certain amount of weight and didn’t quite lose it all. Maybe, you didn’t move forward as you would have liked in your business or got that promotion at work, or getting a job that you wanted.

It can be so easy to get caught up in all the things that didn’t work, that you will forget what did what, what you coped well with and what you achieved and made you happy.

When I look back and reflect on my year, I realize that things that I thought should stand out, that seem to be important, suddenly didn’t seem so important. I also saw that even though things that happened during the year, some quite traumatic and upsetting seem to all pan out to something even deeper. Building strength and character in myself that I wasn’t aware or knew that I had. The unusual or even I would definitely say unwanted events brought a dimension and realm to my life that gave it even greater purpose and meaning.

In your reflection of the year, I would like for you to go through and answer these questions

1. What were some of the happiest days of the year? Who were you with and what were you doing?
2. What was the best meal/meals you cooked?
3. What was the most enjoyable and/or exciting outing, adventure or new things that you learned?
4. What was the best thing that you bought during the year?
5. What was something you bought for yourself that made you feel happy?
6. What was a great gift that you shared or gave during the year?
7. What was one thing that you achieved for the year, that initially you found daunting, but it all fell into place and now you feel happy and accomplished?
8. One thing that happened during the year that was terribly upsetting, unexpected and painful, but you not only worked through it, it also had a very positive outcome that you are truly grateful for.

So once you have written down and answered these questions, gather your responses and confirm:

1. What stands out the most and what are you most grateful and proud of? This might be more than one thing, maybe something you are truly grateful for and something that you are very proud to have achieved.
2. What did you miss or feel you may have missed out on, that you want to make a priority for the New Year ahead?
3. What is the most important thing that matters most that you would bring further Joy, Happiness, Love and Peace into your New Year?

Sharing my answers with you as inspiration.

1. The happiest day of the year for me was when my husband got a final health check that said everything was fine. After a long stent in the hospital with pneumonia that went on to cause some heart difficulties, that is now all on the mend.
2. I decided to have an Indian night with my family and I have never cooked Indian Food properly before. It was a great success.
3. My most enjoyable outing or outings are having dinner with my husband and my family.
4. I guess my most exciting adventure for the year was that I chose to retire from the massage side of my business after 35 years. I must say this surprised me with the transition as it came to a close with ease and great peace, having many wonderful memories from my career in this area. I have learned that I am very resilient and also that I am very much loved. I don’t think life gets much better than that.
5. We purchased a new air conditioner and it is just great.
6. I bought myself some leggings and singlet top, wearing them around home helps me feel relaxed and happy.
7. The greatest gift I was able to share during the year was supporting my husband in his return to health.
8. I think the main thing that I achieved during the year, and have to admit, found very daunting and challenging was closing my physical Naturopathic Health Clinic and moving totally online, even though I had been working toward this for 4 and a half years. I am gradually feeling more competent and at ease with it all.
9. The most upsetting thing that happened during the year was my husband getting ill, then during his treatment in the hospital, there were further complications that put his mortality at risk. Fortunately, due to a great deal of communication and support with medical professionals and, of course, my darling husband's determination, all is now on the mend.

In summary – What stands out for me throughout the year is the importance of spending and sharing time with the people you love, which is of vital importance. Understanding that you can achieve a balance between work and family commitments when you know your priorities and what is important.

I don’t feel there is anything that I have missed out on, but look forward to having a holiday in the New Year.

The most important thing that matters to me is my family and friends. I love my work and the people whom I have helped in overcoming their challenges, to be happy and healthy.

Now it is your turn to reflect on the year that is now coming to an end and to build your hopes and dreams for a happy and purposeful New Year ahead. Wishing you all the very best, Julie xx

Join Me
I love sharing with you simple, effective ways to support your health & positive lifestyle changes.