At the end of each year, it only makes sense to slow down, look back, and review all that has transpired. Journaling at the end of the year is one of the most beautiful and effective processes that you can do. It allows you to honor your journey, celebrate your growth, and set intentions for the New Year. These year-end journaling prompts will help you with meaningful reflection at the end of the year, whether that looks like recognizing your accomplishments, releasing regrets, or brainstorming new ambitions.
Reflecting on the Past Year
All that you have learned this year, the good and the difficult moments have created the person you are now. These reflection moments allow you to gain perspective on your distance traveled and what is most valuable to you. Begin with the accomplishments you take the most pride in. They could be monumental milestones, or small and seemingly insignificant wins that had an impact for a lifetime. Pause and acknowledge these wins and the effort to achieve them.
Over the years, and the challenges that shaped you as a student along the way. Remember your hardest time, and what it taught you. This is not to say that you should recreate the hardship, but rather, acknowledge how you became strong, resilient, or compassionate in those moments. There is always something that we can carry forward apart from some horrible memories in times of challenges as terrifying as they might be.
Finally, look back over some of the best times from the year. When did you feel most alive and joyful? Thinking back on these highlights can serve as a gentle reminder of joy, connection and the simple pleasures that make life worth living.
Cultivating Gratitude
Gratitude shifts the mindset from what we lack, to what is and has value, and through this simple act, the mind is able to experience a shift. Take a moment to look back on the year; who, what, or where have you felt the most grateful? Who brought light into your life? What moments brought you a sense of comfort or joy? Just being aware of these can be a good way to see really how the year comes to a close.
Consider as well the habits and practices that guided you during those difficult times–may it be a daily cup of tea, walks in the park, or even the comforting presence like the Jelli M1 Mask during moments when you needed a bit of extra reassurance. These tiny rituals may fly under the radar, but end up having a major impact on your mental health. Reflect on how these allowed you to keep going.
Take a moment to think about something you did not appreciate that you did before. It could be the kindness of a friend, the unwavering certainty of a schedule, or just having a soft place to land. Such epiphanies usually elicit a fresh appreciation and cause us to appreciate the mundanity of the quotidian.
Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead
After you have contemplated the past, take a glance towards the future. Instead of setting resolutions, consider those traits or values you want to cultivate within yourself. Maybe you want to grow your patience, curiosity, resilience, or whatever. These personal values help you in guiding the choices and actions you take during the year.
If there is one focus that you are eager to engage in, divide it into small milestones. Visualize the achievement, and what small thing should you do now to take the first step? Small steps in the direction of goals increases the sense that they are doable and real.
Additionally, think about the areas of your life that you want to improve. Whether it be personal development, relationships, career, or sustainability through better choices like choosing the Jelli M1 Mask–imagine what the best version of the situation looks like for you. Setting intentions like this can provide both clarity and purpose, aside from a roadmap to follow during the year.
When you set intentions, what is something you would be willing to let go of? Or it could be a bad habit that does not serve you, a limiting belief, or perhaps fear that you are dealing with. Release gives room for reinvention and for new ideas to cultivate themselves freeing yourself from the past ahead.
Dreaming Big
End the journaling session in a state of free dreaming. What would you be brave enough to go for if there were no limits? Thinking about your dreams can create a buzz and help you remember things you may have shelved. Inspiration comes from possibility, not from hard and fast targets.
Last but not least, consider how you want to feel this time next year. Imagine yourself in the future, having acted upon your intentions. So, what does that life look like? How does it feel? This vision is an incredibly powerful motivator to maintain along the entire journey.
Taking a moment to reflect on the past year and setting intentions for the year to come—what better way to close one chapter and begin another? These journaling prompts are to help you accept everything this year gave you and to start looking ahead, filled with hope. Allow your process the time and space to think, and I should remind you this process is about self-discovery and not perfection. To one where we grow, where we give thanks and where we have a purpose.