Out With the Old and In With The New. Creating a new vision for 2020
In memory of Ram Dass.
“ We are all just walking each other home.”
Happy 2020 everyone! I am back and refreshed after a full Winter Break and ready to start this New Year off with a bang! Though, I have to say, it took me a bit to recoup from 2019, I got sick the first few days of the year and took a much needed stay at home sabbatical to process and integrate 2019. It wasn’t until yesterday that I started my intentions and creating my vision for the new year.
The first step in this was to reflect on the past year, it’s not too late to do this! Below I have posted a simple process to help you discover and celebrate your highlights and your lowlights of 2019. This will help clear the energy and create even more space for your vision to take you through this new year and new decade. Do you want to play with me? This is a fun process!
Your Year In Review
Celebrating your Highlights and Lowlights of 2019
Your Year in Review
(Questions adapted from Kat Knecht)
I learned from my mentor Kat Knecht, that in order to make space for bringing new energy and new intentions into your life, it is a great idea to look back at the past year.
To quote Kat, doing the year in review, “opened my eyes wide to the value of knowing what I have… what I have experienced… what I have lost… what has brought me great joy… and what I have learned from the past year.”
Kat has created this easy 5 step process, so grab your journal, or a notebook and a good pen and let’s get started. I recommend giving yourself a good uninterrupted block of time to work on this.
Step #1:
Gather up your information from the past year, both formal and informal, that you use to organize your life: your day planner, your online calendars, even your Facebook and Instagram posts. You may want to gather your financial records (we usually spend money on the things we value), emails and other relevant documents. Use a soft focus as you do this, let your mind take in the information, pay attention to what stands out, quietly remembering what you experienced in 2019.
Step #2
If you have them, take a look at last year’s vision boards, journals, yearly intentions and goals.
Step #3
You may also have “artifacts” from the drawers where you keep precious memorabilia such as ticket stubs, pressed flowers, etc.
Look through your photos from the past year from your phone or elsewhere. This can be a ton of fun, see what stands out… the people, experiences and sensational moments in time as well as the challenges.
Include everything. Do this without judgement... Just memories.
Most important is to take some time to meander and remember what you experienced this past year. It may help you to go to a quiet place in your house, nature or a coffee shop.
Step #4
Organize your findings by looking at the Highlights and the Lowlights of your year.
The Highlights:
What experiences stand out? What moments were life-changing, fulfilling, meaningful? What was delightful? What brought you laughter, thoughtfulness, inspiration, joy, satisfaction?
The Lowlights:
What challenges did you face? What were your failures? What did you learn from these? What do you want to forgive yourself (or others) for? What do you want to release and leave behind as you move forward?
Notice what you are learning as you review the past year. What do the highs and lows tell you about yourself? With them in front to you, what do you see? What is important?
If the following are tools you use from year to year, take a look at them also:
Your Intention: Did you have an intention for 2019? If so, how did your intention work for you? Was it a guide that helped you thrive? Did you forget about it in March?
Your Goals:
Did you set goals for this year? If so, wat happened? Did you reach them? Did you change thme as you went? What are the results you experienced for having set hose goals? What do you love about your goal setting process? What doesn’t work anymore?
Your Vision:
Did you make a vision board? Did you have any other structures for your vision this year? If so, what happened that seemed guided by your vision? What didn’t happen? What aspects of your vision, if any, do you want to carry through to 2020?
Step #5:
One area that is often missed but is essential when looking at your life is YOU!
What do you see when you look at yourself? What are you most proud of this year? How did you grow? What new aspect of yourself bloomed? What about your spiritual journey? Your self-care? Your habits? Who have you been and who are you becoming?
Take a look at all this information and see what it’s telling you about your accomplishments as well as who you have become as a person.
· What strengths and positive qualities do you want to celebrate?
· What lessons do you want to take from the Lowlights of the year?
· What patterns, themes, and insights are revealed by doing this review?
· What seems to be unfolding as the next chapter in your life?
Enjoy this journey! It is the perfect way to end the year and make way for a new vision! In the next few days, I will send out some great insights and a plan for planning for a new vision for the year to come.