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Aside from keeping old traditions alive, this time of the year is also a golden opportunity to start new ones.
There's a variety of traditions you could start doing— from getting a yearly skincare treat to observing more thoughtful traditions to be more considerate of our chosen ones' circumstances (hello, white elephant!)
For us? It's keeping a time capsule that's easy to commit to and answering these three questions every year. The result? Something to look back on when we want a reminder of how far we've come.
Did I wield my power to control or allow myself to go more with the flow?
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Whenever we look back on the year, it's great to think whether we let ourselves sit in the backseat or were front and center in making things happen. While this question can't be confined to just one to sum up the whole year, it asks us which moments or aspects in life we allowed ourselves to play a more active role in and which ones we allowed ourselves to let our hair down.
For example, you may have felt your boundaries have been overstepped in your professional relationships and ensured to be more firm with them this year. In turn, this allowed the freedom to explore more hobbies. These two can coexist in a year, so don't be afraid to specify!
Was it a year of unlearning what you know or building from prior knowledge?
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To be in progress means we have to keep learning and unlearning to build a set of learnings, perspectives, and mindsets we best resonate with. By taking a moment to reflect on this, we're reminded of how we're able to let go of what no longer serves us or pursue experiences that will build on what we already know.
Try to look back on your challenges' common theme this year. Did it teach you to undo past habits or rituals? Or did it require you to pick up a new set of skills? No matter your answer for this year, you're bound to feel more connected to your progress as you know how and why you're in your future self's place.
Have you grown more self-reliant, or did you allow help to come in?
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For those who are known to be fiercely independent, allowing other people to come into your life and be a helping might be a challenge. On the other hand, people who might have developed strong ties to the point of being unable to feel fulfilled when alone can find themselves in the same challenge.
Answering this question every year allows us to see which moments in our journey felt fulfilling whether we did it all by ourselves or with the help of others. Those who wanted to be more self-reliant might find joy in looking back and knowing that we practiced becoming self-sufficient when a guiding hand was usually there. Those not used to reaching out for help might find pride in being vulnerable enough to ask for help.
A balance is needed for this, but being able to pinpoint these moments in our lives is a great way to highlight the joy of being alone and being connected.
No Wrong Answers
Your reflections are yours— so there’s no wrong answers to these as we’ll never experience the exact same year and think about it in one certain way. Try to answer these before the year ends and give 2024 you a favor by leaving the questions in advance at the end of your journal.