Reflections
Tools and prompts to reflect on 2025
In life, we spend so much of our time doing, striving, accomplishing, moving forward, and checking off items on the never-ending to-do list of life, leaving the past behind in the rearview mirror. It is so important to remember that the river of life is not only long and swift, it also comes to places where it is deep and slow, where the water is still and we can see our reflections.
This pause, this time for reflection and to consider life more deeply, is such a powerful reset that you can give to yourself. And, this is a perfect time, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, to set aside an hour or two to reflect on the past year.
Sometimes I look back and everything is a blur. Sometimes there are events, good and challenging, that stand out like boulders in the river. Sometimes I see the slow and steady progress of an intentional life being built in alignment with my values, like the river carving its way through a canyon.
My offering to you this week is some tools and prompts to help you reflect and dive into deeper waters. Read through them all and start with what resonates with you. With any of these ideas, keep your journal handy!
If you keep a calendar, it is a great tool to help you look back to see how you literally marked the passage of time. A calendar shows us how we pass our time regularly, but it also contains records of those important or special events, get-togethers, or travel. Were there any special achievements in this year? Projects completed? Challenges overcome? Take some time to journal about what you see. You might notice how much time went to work versus rest, or be surprised by how certain relationships or activities claimed more (or less) space than you realized.
If you like to talk things out and you have family and friends who would like to do this with you, reflecting together can be a magical experience. You could use the prompts below as discussion starters or take turns with the “rose, thorn, and bud” exercise, where everyone talks about a highlight or special part of their year (their rose), something that was hard (their thorn), and some way they are continuing to grow (their bud).
If you journal on a consistent basis, reading back through your entries for the past year can reveal patterns of thought and emotional cycles throughout the year. Notice which concerns appeared repeatedly and whether they evolved or resolved. Look for shifts in your perspective, evidence of personal growth, or recurring sources of joy and stress. Sometimes you’ll find that problems that felt enormous in March barely register by December, reminding you of your own resilience and capacity for change.
This year, I chose, for my reflection time, a trip down memory lane through the photos on my phone. I journaled about whatever came up as I looked back at these moments captured in time. What was I doing? Who was I with? Where did I go? Why do I have so many pictures of my pug, Peanut?
I try to use a combination of these techniques to reflect on the year as it comes to a close, but I really enjoyed using my camera roll this year. It made me happy to see all the connections and experiences with family and friends - my daughter graduated, my book was released, and so many friends who each inhabit a special place in my heart. Also, Peanut is really good at posing for photos. As I finished journaling about what I saw in these photos, I felt proud of the life I am continuing to create.
Some prompts to use for year-end reflection:
The biggest lesson I learned this year . . .
The biggest surprise of this year . . .
What habits shape my life right now?
Who are the people who make me laugh? Help me grow? Keep me grounded?
What is the best thing you have discovered about yourself?
What were you able to accomplish?
What are you most grateful for?
What was your biggest challenge, and who or what helped (or is helping) you navigate this challenge?
Describe a moment of joy from this past year. Who were you with? What were you doing?
What do you need to let go of from this past year?
Who or what needs to be forgiven?
How are you caring for yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?
Did you live in alignment with your values this year?
What are three words that describe your past year?
Next week, I will offer some exercises and journal prompts to begin looking forward, but I truly believe that looking forward with a reflective mind helps us see our future visions more clearly and helps us stay more present to the process of embodying that vision, now, in the present where we live our lives.
I hope you take some time before the end of the year to give yourself the gift of reflection. Take some time to celebrate yourself, to acknowledge how much you have grown or what you have survived. Did this year look like you thought it would when it started on January 1st, 2025, or did it veer off in unexpected ways?
If you are feeling inspired, comment below with your three words that describe 2025 for you!
I can’t wait to hear from you.
Thank you for reading and for taking time for yourself.