It's That Time
Those of you who've been following me in any capacity for any length of time know that December is filled with nostalgia, intention and purpose for me. It's the time of year when I deliberately carve out time and space to reflect, to plan, and to get clarity on whatever it is I think needs clarifying as I wrap up the current year and move forward to the next,
There's a particular process I use to engage in this process. I'm going to share it with you here, and invite you to join me if you feel it will help you in any way. The end of any year can be so busy and hectic for some folks. What I know for sure is that even if you don't really want to "plan", being deliberate about taking time to reflect can be helpful. Here are the steps I use (and you can do whatever works for you):
Grab your calendar for the past year, and take a stroll down memory lane. Look at the different weeks, months, seasons and notice: what were the peak experiences? What were the disappointments? What lessons did you learn? Capture this all in some way that is meaningful for you -- bullet journal? Regular journal? Scrap piece of paper? Your choice!
Once you've captured what feels important, pause. Look at what you've noted and discern if there's a theme or thread that runs through it all. Ask yourself: does this align with what I wanted? Where did I stretch? Where did I surprise myself? When did I sell myself short? Add whatever other questions will help you anchor the learning and experiences.
Now, close your eyes for a bit, and let yourself dream. If the coming year could revolve around a theme for you, what would that theme be? What word or phrase encapsulates your dreams, your wishes, your desires, your intentions? You might need to contemplate this for a bit (I know I always take a few days and sometimes weeks, to finally nail it down). Write that word or phrase down in a separate space.
Let yourself sit with whatever theme you came up with. Don't rush this step. Post it somewhere as a constant reminder for you, and whenever you see it or think about it, notice what it brings up for you. Ideally, your word or phrase is one that feels possibility-filled, and excites you. As you sit with it, if it doesn't inspire you, be open to changing it.
This final step is one that I tweak as needed: create a visual representation of your desired theme. This could be a vision board, or a piece of art. Whatever it is, this visual representation is meant to keep you anchored and serve as a deeper reminder than the word alone would. What differs for me each year is that sometimes I simply build on the visual from the previous year, and sometimes I create a brand new visual entirely. It's all about what feels like it needs changing and what is still true and meaningful for me
Here's a bit of a cautionary note: in my experience, my choosing of a theme rarely "unfolds" in the way I think it's going to. It always unfolds as it should, and I always grow from the experience, but I've learned to be open to surprises. Also I've learned to trust that the universe actually knows what I need, even when I wish for something different.
The thing that prompts me to do this every year is the immense joy I get from both reflecting and planning. It can be really easy to plan without reflecting, and while that can be good, planning that is rooted in a bit of reflection alongside visioning always seems more rich and ultimately more meaningful.