Reflective Questions to Empower You Into the New Year
Wow. What a year it’s been. In some areas, I feel like I’ve grown in leaps and bounds. In others, I know I still have work to do and growth to explore.
What about you? When you reflect on the past year, what thoughts and feelings come up for you?
I know that’s a big question. I also know that any opportunity to get curious about ourselves is an opportunity to make things even better :)
This year, just like in previous years, I’d like to guide you through some powerful questions to help you start the new year with intention, confidence, self-compassion and, hopefully, excitement.
Questions to Ask Yourself to Start 2022 With Intention
Q: What do you NOT want to bring forward in 2022?
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This could be habits, patterns, relationships, beliefs that no longer serve you, expectations of yourself or others, ideas about who you “should” be, and so on.
Q: What lessons did you learn?
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Think about any challenges you faced, changes you experienced, or struggles you overcame (or continue to move through). What did you learn about yourself, others, what you’re capable of, or what you truly want?
Q: What were you most proud of and grateful for this year?
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What you feel proud of, grateful for, or what brought you joy, fulfillment, peace, etc. can all give you powerful insight into what you might want to grow or expand on in the new year. This is also a chance to celebrate your amazing self :)
Q: What do you need to forgive yourself or others for?
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“To err is human, to forgive divine.” – Alexander Pope.
Every single one of us has “mis-takes” or things we want to improve. That simply makes you (and everyone else) human. Forgiveness empowers you to let go of thoughts and feelings that hold you in status quo, and to step into the world of possibilities the Universe has to offer.
Q: What are your intentions for 2022?
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What will you make happen for yourself? What mindset will you work to develop? How will you shift the way you show up? What will you do for yourself? What will you do for those you care about, or the people you lead? What will you grow or develop within yourself?
Q: What word will be your 2022 theme?
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This could be a word, phrase or mantra. Explore your values, purpose and big picture vision. Explore your answers to the previous questions. What jumps out at you? What feels right?
Putting it Into Action
Once you take this time to reflect, then what? First, you need to fully let go of what isn’t serving you. I love seeing out the old year with a fire ceremony. It’s a powerful practice that can shift the energy of whatever you’re experiencing, empowering you to release what’s holding you back. Here’s how to practice a fire ceremony on your own.
After that, it’s time to set some goals for yourself, break those down into workable chunks, then break them down further into small steps that you can take daily, weekly, quarterly to actually move you in the direction of what you want to create.
Ready to take action? Here are some resources to guide you:
- How to practice radical self acceptance
- How to create a vision board
- How to practice time ownership (as an antidote to time management)
- How to Develop Your Inner Leader
- Understanding the Triangle of Disempowerment (and getting out of it)
- How to Practice Certainty in Uncertain Times
It’s so important to get clarity on what’s working for you, what isn’t, and what you want to create for yourself. Although you can ask yourself powerful questions like these at any time, a new year can feel like a great opportunity for a fresh start. Embrace that energy of change and new beginnings.
As a coach, the start of a new year can be a busy time, as so many people and organizations are looking to start the year off “right”. If you would like guidance getting clarity for yourself, your team or your organization, I invite you to connect with me.
Wishing you a great end of year and a miraculous 2022!
