To move forward we have to reflect on where we’ve been, we have to actively choose:
- What we want to take with us
- What we want to keep up
- What we want to leave behind
In thinking about the last season:
- What experiences or situations did you love this last year? Write down a few examples first, in list format without a lot of description. Don't have to be big events, CAN be, but can also be reading a book, taking a yoga class, etc.
- Now look at those, and think a little more deeply. What was it about those experiences or situations that you loved? Why did you love them? Include the feeling here - you felt at ease, or energetic.
- What was one of the best decisions - or just a really great decision you made this year? What gift did it bring to you?
These questions are meant to reground you on what went well about last year, so you can choose if you want to pull some of these things forward into this year. You may also notice some underlying values embedded into your answers.
- What was a challenge you overcame this past year. In hindsight, was there an unexpected gift in it? Or a realization that came out of it?
- What do you want to leave behind? Maybe this is something you’ve grown out of, or something that’s no longer serving you. Spend a few minutes taking stock in what no longer brings you joy. Some examples include:
- Belief patterns
- Habits
- Relationships
- Environment
- Day-to-day clutter or actual things
- Taking that a step further, (may include some of the same as previous answer), but what do you want to loosen its hold on you? I.e. What thing, influence, aspect in your life do you wish to reduce the influence or control over you? Anything that has a significant grip on your life, behavior or emotions. (i.e. stress, habit, relationship, object)
Look at this list with complete compassion and without judgment. No shame here! Whatever this was, has led you to wear you are today, and is part of your story. Look at the words on your page and with gratitude for serving their purpose up to this point, allow these things to come to rest. Maybe you visualize them evaporating or floating away.