For over two decades, I have bypassed the usual stress of New Year’s resolutions in favour of a simple, 30-minute practice that grounded me through life's biggest transitions.
Since 2005, this ritual of sitting down with a blank piece of paper has been my most reliable compass for both personal peace and professional growth.
My intention was to be more mindful of the many blessings in my life and to truly reflect on what I had achieved without beating myself up. I simply write down:
1. What am I grateful for?
2. What am I willing to let go of?
3. And what do I want to bring into my life in the next year?
While I started this for mindfulness, there have been several unexpected benefits that keep me coming back to the page every year:
The Joy of the Process: I actually love sitting down and writing them (preferably with my head slightly buzzy from a couple of glasses of pink champagne).
The Living History: It is joyful to read them back years later as a reminder of what has been - from my daughter starting school or a new pet entering our lives, right through to the relief of releasing a toxic employee.
Emotional Freedom: I feel more at peace because I am willing to work on releasing what is making me unhappy.
Future Clarity: It gets me clear and excited about the year ahead.
Traditionally, New Year's Eve is about writing out goals and resolutions from the perspective that we’re not good enough. But it’s never a good idea to make plans when we feel small and imperfect.
Instead, taking a bigger, grateful perspective of what transpired throughout the year (with no judgement) helps you to focus on what you want to amplify and release.
One of the most important leadership practices is to make time for self-reflection and to celebrate what we have achieved. I find my past lists cover everything from achieving exercise goals, as well as work, health, financial, family and relationship goals.
It's a good feeling to see what we have achieved and where we have made progress, when it's so easy to feel like we have not.
Looking back at a year like 2020, or even 2025, it can be so easy to get caught up in the negativity of what happened, losing the whole point of a year that forced us to look inward. All we have to do is look - and be thankful of how far we have come over 12 months. The more you do it, the more years you get to reflect on and see what you have achieved.
Try it. It might change your life - like it has for me.