Dear Friend,
I have never been one for New Year's resolutions. Can’t stand them actually, they feel fleeting and shallow. I am, however, a person who is compelled to live with intentionality. There are many things in this world we cannot control, but the intentions we bring forth each day are within our control and have the power to transform our lives. That is how I frame the turning of the page to 2024 and why I am excited to be sharing my New Year’s coaching process with my community this month!
Before looking forward to all you want to accomplish or ways you want to approach the fresh page of a new year, it’s important to first take a look back. Reflection is a powerful tool which offers perspective and wisdom. An exercise I do every year is what I call “A Year In Review”. Here’s how it goes; grab a piece of paper and jot down your top moments of this past year. Usually, I sit down to brainstorm these highlights and my mind goes blank and I’m certain I did nothing of note that year. If you’re like me and need a little help sparking inspiration, go to photos in your phone and begin at January 2023 and browse. You will be surprised by how many moments you have forgotten about, the memories you made and the challenges you overcame in the previous year.
It feels good to remember the fun times you had and the moments you want more of in the coming year. Feeling “I want more of this” is a great way of knowing which moments lifted your soul and refueled your tank. It’s also healthy to grieve the hardships and loss you’ve faced this past year. Those moments offer you resilience and compassion for what you have made it through and profound perspective as you move forward. With reflection, all of these memories serve as a roadmap for where you want to go and reinforce confidence that you have what it takes to get there!
Now that you have your top moments of 2023 listed, flip the paper over and write in big, block numbers “2024.” Within those numbers write down how you want to feel in this new year, what you want to do, what you want more of in your life and goals you have for yourself. Be as specific as possible and tap into all aspects of who you are - not just your most familiar roles. What do you want personally, professionally, creatively, within your relationships and health? Envision yourself at the end of 2024 - What have you accomplished and what is making you feel proud and excited for yourself?
The final step is to name your “Word of The Year”! I have included a printable PDF below to offer you some creative assistance or you can create your own. There is no wrong way to do this. Your word of the year is meant to be a word that inspires you, represents what you want more of, or an area you want to improve on.
