The Holiday Season: A Time for Recharging and Reflecting

"Your soul needs time for solitude and self-reflection. In order to love lead, heal and create, you must nourish yourself first." - Linda Joy

It's the end of the year, which is such an interesting time for me. Not just because I can take a break and enjoy the delights of the holiday season when I can enjoy cooler weather, grab a piping hot cup of delicious cocoa, and bundle up with my favorite cozy, warm throw blanket. Not only because the Christmas tree is glistening and classic movies induce nostalgia like none other. It's because this time of the year is when I find myself having quiet moments of deep reflection. I can recharge and take time to think about how my year went - what went wrong, what went right, ways I can improve, etc. My dreams and desires become more alive during this season for me. At the beginning of each new year (which is right around the corner), I make a vision board. However, before I create a new one, I take some time to look at my current one to see how I have done it. Sometimes passions are discovered or simply continued. Sometimes dreams and desires die off and are replaced with new ones. As you can see, this is a unique time when I grow to appreciate the journey behind me and most importantly, what's up ahead.

Reflection is a thought occurring in consideration or meditation (dictionary.com). It is a process of self-exploration where we can examine ourselves, our perspectives, attributes, experiences, and actions/interactions. It helps us gain insight and see how to move forward. I enjoy taking time to reflect because I use this time to be "real with myself", face my problems head-on, and identify areas of improvement. I "check in" with myself and take inventory of how I am feeling and how things are actually going. It is vital, to be honest, and rational during this time. This part of this process involves self-awareness. A book I am currently reading is called "Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think" by Tasha Eurich. This great read is incredible because it teaches you how to have self-awareness, which is knowing who you are and how others see you. I find that reflection can help to increase your self-awareness, which is pivotal to have the foundation for personal growth, decision-making, and building stronger relationships.

This blog is a bit shorter than my previous ones because I want to encourage you to take some time to reflect. When you get a quiet moment and will not be disturbed, try this exercise. You can either write/type a journal entry or think of it mentally without writing it down. Take a deep breath and think about the following (you can choose a few or all):

• What was your proudest moment this year? Ask yourself why that is and appreciate all the people/opportunities/aspects of it that were involved.

• Areas of improvement that may be related to people or situations. Choose one or two specific examples. Ask yourself what went wrong, how did it make you feel, why did it happen, and what can you do to improve or work through this situation. Ask yourself if you need professional help, more "me time", or other ways to improve.

• People/opportunities/achievements you are grateful for.

• Your achievements and what you hope to achieve as short-term and long-term goals

• Your setbacks and how you can grow from them. Are you being redirected or do you need more time to work through it?

• Your passions. Did you work on anything in the past year that allowed you to explore new passions or enjoy existing ones?

• Your purpose. Did you do anything this year that correlates to a deeper purpose you have for yourself or a calling?

• Consider your physical, financial, and spiritual state. Are you happy with where you are? If not, what can you do to better this?
  

There are endless prompts/focuses you can think of. You may be able to think of your own. The important thing is that you take some time to assess where you are right now mentally so that you can truly figure out where you are going, as the new year approaches. So grab a cup of tea, pull out a journal, or sit in your car for a few extra minutes if you need to. Find some time this holiday season as the year wraps up to reflect on yourself.

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

― Søren Kierkegaard