Reflections & Intentions
The end of each year feels to me like an invitation to pause and reflect. Having a marker in our day, week, or year can be a reminder to check in with ourselves rather than be on autopilot. When we are busy and stressed, these pauses are especially important for resetting our nervous systems to move from survival mode into more expansive thinking.
If we have difficulty allowing ourselves to slow down, this may be because we are concerned about not being happy with what we will realize. However this information can also help us know ourselves better and allow our decisions to be informed. We might sense that we would be healthier and happier if we made difficult changes. We could also recognize we have a lot to appreciate that we are taking for granted. Reflecting allows us to increase awareness of the full spectrum of our experiences.
When we recognize that we want to make significant changes, perhaps to be more aligned with our values or our long-term aspirations, we might feel excited or perhaps overwhelmed. Consider whether you need a different balance in priorities to align with your values. Are you investing resources in what you truly care about? If you set a big goal for yourself, break this down into several smaller steps so you can build a sense of competence, confidence, and accomplishment with each step.
If you’ve had difficulty living into your intentions, consider exploring the obstacles that have gotten in the way. Perhaps there’s a quality to focus on cultivating that may help you work through the obstacle. If you want to begin reading each evening or exercising daily, you might cultivate your ability to be self-disciplined or maybe to be flexible with your schedule. Consider what approaches may be most nourishing for you.
When cultivating a quality, I suggest operationalizing how you’d work toward this so you have clear tangible steps rather than just the desire to be different in some way. If you want to develop more courage, you might sign up for an activity about which you feel nervous excitement. If you want to tap into more creative energy, you might work with a music teacher or take on a 30 day writing challenge. You could cultivate generosity by looking for a new opportunity each week to offer support to someone through giving money, attention, or a needed service.
As you take time for self-reflection and intention-setting, I hope you will find clarity in living a meaningful and fulfilling year.
