Ok I know we are still getting to know each other, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reminisce on all that 2021 brought us. Another……interesting……..year in the books! Like many this year, I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in 2022, but not without first taking some time to reflect on the previous chapter.
Before diving into establishing our new year’s resolutions, it’s important to stop and look back at the last 365 days. The lessons you learned in 2021 have the power to set you up for your best 2022.
Feeling a little overwhelmed as you think back about everything that happened in 2021. I encourage you to ask yourself the following to get your reflective juices flowing:
- What were you doing when you felt your happiest in 2021? Remember to get granular! Who were you with? Where were you? How were you spending your time?
- What were you doing when you felt your least happy? Who were you with? Was there anything you could have done to make the situation more positive?
- Take an inventory of your relationships. What relationships fueled you? Were there any that drained your energy? Are the people you are choosing to spend time with building you up and pushing you to be a better person? Are you doing your part to build up those around you?
- Did you set appropriate boundaries? If so, did they improve your overall happiness? If not, are there places that you could have implemented boundaries that would have led to a happier, healthier 2021?
- How did you grow, personally or professionally?
- What behaviors served you best? Which did not serve you?
If you are someone who journals, whip that baby out and start writing! Whichever prompts resonate with you, put pen to paper and see what flows out of that beautiful brain of yours. There is no better way to map out your intentions for the new year than with a fresh perspective on what worked and what didn’t in the prior year.
If you are not a frequent “journaler” I highly recommend you add journaling to your 2022 to-do list. More to come on the benefits of journaling in future posts! In the meantime, you likely have a piece of paper. Pick a few of these prompts and write down your answers, or simply allow yourself time to think about them. Self-reflection is a powerful use of one’s time.
Hopefully after taking some time to reflect you have a clearer picture of what fuels your spirit. Stepping outside of your comfort zone? Spending uninterrupted time with friends and family? Spending time in nature? Taking an impromptu day off to rest and restore?
Hopefully you also have a better idea of the activities, behaviors and relationships that need to be shown the door in 2022.
- Is self-doubt stopping you from pursuing your dreams?
- Wasting too much time scrolling on your phone?
- Lack of physical activity?
There is nothing selfish about prioritizing your happiness and protecting your peace. And just as this may require adding some new habits and boundaries to your life, it will also require eliminating the things that no longer serve you.
And with that, onto the next!! See my next post on setting intentions for 2022. You are now armed and ready to make 2022 your best year yet. Let the fun begin!
xx – Jenny
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