New Year Reflections and Setting Intentions

Do you set intentions for the new year? I have to admit - I have tried in the past but given up after finding it incredibly hard to stick to whatever lofty goal I decided on!
 
A couple of years ago, I came across the idea of first reflecting on the year that was (other than just to be glad it’s over!!) before setting any new year resolutions or intentions and this has been a much more successful process. This has helped me unpack and discover what had been preventing me from achieving previous resolutions.

 
The new year is a perfect time to clean the slate and ‘start fresh’. But, to do this in any meaningful way we need to first take the time to review and reflect on the year that has passed. What went well? What didn’t? What were some unexpected delights? Challenges? This is no easy task, but I have found it so valuable for making lasting change. I highly recommend this for anyone who may be feeling stuck and about to make the same New Year resolution as last year.

These questions came from a podcast I follow with Katy Bowman of Nutritious Movement. If you'd like to listen to her and her co-host's reflections and intention setting for some inspiration, have a listen to this episode​.

Completing and Remembering the Previous Year

• What was your biggest triumph this past year?
• What was the smartest decision you made this past year?
• What one word best sums up and describes this past years’ experience?
• What was the most loving service you performed this past year?
• What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in this past year?
• What are you most happy about completing this past year?
• Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life this past year?
• What was the biggest risk you took this past year?
• What was the biggest surprise this past year?
• What important relationship improved the most in the past year?
• What compliment would you have liked to have received this past year?
• What compliment would you liked to have given in the past year?
• What else do you need to say to be complete with the results of the past year?

 
Creating a New Year

• What would you like to be your greatest triumph in the coming year?
• What advice would you like to give yourself this coming year?
• What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in the coming year?
• What would you be most happy about completing this new year?
• What major indulgence are you willing to experience this coming year?
• What would you like to change about yourself in the coming year?
• What are you looking forward to learning this new year?
• What do you think will be your greatest risk in this coming year?
• What are you most committed to changing about your work and improving during this year?
• What is one undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in the coming year?
• What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in your life this year?
• Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving this new year?
• What one word would you like to have as your theme in the new year?

So this summer, take the time to pause, reflect and review so you are better equipped to set yourself some powerful, relevant intentions for 2020.

Here's to a fabulous year! 

​x