By Jeanette Perez
Graphic by Maya Uribe
With the year coming to an end, it’s almost as if there’s a universal silent reboot, as if we are given a chance to kickstart a routine of change; a clean slate. Although we are very capable of change throughout the entirety of the year, it feels more achievable toward this time of year knowing that everyone is also making changes and planning ahead in unison.
Whether it be a fitness goal, business plan, or educational goal, we all share a shedding of the year prior. By welcoming the new year in celebration and setting goals, we can utilize this transformative time to set meaningful intentions that will evolve and further enhance our path toward success.
As we welcome new experiences, this often allows us to reflect on our past decisions leading up to where we are now. As you reflect on your current state in life, some important things to consider are whether you lived a year of comfort or welcomed change as it approached, overseeing any, and all obstacles you’ve overcome. Did your year push you out of your comfort zone, reaching a new depth of knowledge? Or did you spend your year in a stagnant state, watching the seasons change on autopilot? Truly understanding the growth we’ve made as individuals can set us up to reach for more in the year to come. We may not recognize the change that the year has bestowed upon us as we’re going through it but before we know it, December has come and you are no longer breathing the July summer breeze. So before you dive into new goals and achievements for the year to come, it is important to reflect on the growth you’ve achieved up until now. Some important things to reflect on include your values, educational goals, and mental approaches. The end of the year brings attention to this as we
let go of habits that no longer align with new goals, and integrate better ones as we begin our journey toward the upcoming year.
As we bring in the new year, we are introduced to a myriad of growth opportunities. A mindful reflection of our experiences and what we’ve gone through helps us see our mistakes for what they are, which is needed to develop a growth mindset. Approaching our minor mistakes and setbacks with a growth mindset can set us up for a more profound experience in the coming year, approaching similar experiences with a tool to do things differently, rather than repeating a familiar cycle. Think of yourself as an evolving individual with the opportunity to enrich your life in all aspects by simply changing the way you process information. If an opportunity seems out of your reach, think of it as a challenge you are willing to negotiate, if you fail an exam, think of how much more prepared you’ll be the next time around, so you see? Changing the way you process information can set you up for a year filled with positive feedback.
With this in mind, our conscious reflections must also reflect our physical health. Take a moment to think about the habits you cultivated to take care of your physical well-being throughout the year. By evaluating your current state, you can more or less determine what changes you’d like to make going forward. Bearing in mind stress levels, nutrition goals, sleep patterns, or specific fitness goals, we can better assess what progress we’ve made throughout the year. Regardless of where we find ourselves in this assessment of our physical well-being, it’s important to remember that simply taking the time to reflect on these small aspects will build a foundation for a more compassionate approach toward our future selves.
The new year is meant to bring these things to the table, forcing us to acknowledge the steps we have taken to mold ourselves into the individuals we are now. It should also foster a chance for healthy goal-setting and meaningful intentions.
Let us welcome a new year together!
