12 Dec Two Powerful Ways to Kick Off the New Year
The New Year is quickly approaching, as we bring 2021 to a close. As with every year, time seems to disappear in the blink of an eye. As we say goodbye to 2021 and welcome the year to come, there are powerful ways we can kick off the new year without the use of New Year’s resolutions. I’ve personally experienced the life-changing power of these techniques over the years!
Why I Don’t Believe in New Year’s Resolutions
The New Year is infamous for setting resolutions and goals. However, despite being well-intentioned, these efforts are often fleeting and short-lived. Why is that?
In my experience, we (as a society) are constantly laser-focused on what is to come. We fervently move onto the next thing without allowing time for rest, recovery, reflection, acknowledgement, and appreciation for the past. In the case of New Year’s resolutions, we push forward into the New Year, focusing on what we don’t have enough of (money, fitness, success, etc) and striving for the bigger and better, without much reflection on the year to pass. While setting a goal to exercise more often or eat more whole foods in the New Year is a well-intentioned thought, I believe there are more productive and successful ways to kick off the New Year.
I also believe that energy medicine plays a role in New Year’s resolutions. For those who relate more to Yin energy, like myself, setting resolutions can feel painstaking and rigid. As someone who exhibits more Yin-like qualities, I crave goal-setting techniques that include intuition, nurturing, flow, reflection and growth.
Two Powerful Ways to Kick Off the New Year
Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions for myself, I prefer to intentionally spend time reflecting and reviewing the previous year, before moving onto the year to come. I believe this is an effective way to pursue and experience change in the New Year. Personally, I use two introspective techniques to help gain an awareness of my progress and ponder in reflection:
Best of The Year Review
The Best of The Year Review is an excellent way to identify and reflect on impactful moments from the previous year. You can think of them as “superlative awards for your life.”
First, complete the Best of The Year Review on your own. Then, if applicable, complete a new joint version with your partner or spouse. This can serve as an incredible time of bonding, connection, laughter, nostalgia and appreciation!
Year In A Flash
Year in a Flash is a reflection on each month of the year. It’s a great way to pinpoint moments of success (or failure), encourage gratitude, and gain new perspectives from past experiences.
Bonus: When working through my Year in a Flash, I enjoy selecting 5-10 photos from each month and printing them out in a photo book of the year.
Then, after completing both of these practices, I look at the year ahead.
I simply write 3 sentences: Next year, this time….
My mind will be________________________.
My body will be________________________.
My spirit will be _______________________.
While honoring all the moments that led me to this new year and steeping in the present moment, I simply allow my intuition to guide me into the future and towards my truest self. Practicing the Best of The Year Review and Year in a Flash helps take the pressure off New Year’s resolutions, connects you with your bigger purpose, and eliminates any feeling that you are “not doing enough.”
These are gentle techniques to inherently show how much you have done and are capable of. Most importantly, they can help answer these foundational questions:
- Is your life aligning with who you are?
- Are you listening to your innate wisdom?
- Are you putting energy into the things that matter most to you?
After completing your Best of The Year Review and Year in a Flash, you can turn towards the New Year with a gentle and impressive awareness of where you’ve been and where you want to go.
Happy New Year my friends!
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