Welcome back THRIVE readers! December has finally arrived and the year is ending soon. It’s been such a long year and I can barely remember what I did last month. Can you remember everything you did in this one year? Why don’t we take the time to think about what have we have accomplished starting from January until December? Allow yourself to take a short break and reflect on how life has been for you this year!
“Self-reflection is a humbling process. It’s essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things – then better yourself.”
Sonya Teclai
I understand how reflecting is not easy for some people as not all memories are joyful or wonderful. Still, the fact that you are here today proves further that you are brave and stronger than any obstacles you’ve encountered this year. Thank you for being here with me! Even though I don’t know anything about your stories or what you’ve been through, I wanted to tell you that you’ve done a great job holding on so well.
THRIVE is a safe space and community where we embrace kindness and welcome vulnerability. While creating this article, I’m not just a writer, but you can also think of me as a friend who genuinely wants to share about how we can all learn to celebrate the small and big wins in our lives!
Self-reflection Questions
To start with, you can get a piece of paper or your phone or laptop, and try to answer any of these questions that resonate with you. It will help you think about your achievements and challenges that might seem unconnected until you reflect back on all of it. A great tip is to go through your photos, documents, or journal entries to help you remember better!
Here are 8 questions worth reflecting on:
- What do you want to remember about this year for the rest of your life?
- What is something you achieved this year that you are proud of?
- Are there certain times when you needed to do some extra self-care?
- What is something you learned about yourself this year?
- What are you most grateful for right now in your life?
- If you could rewind one year, what advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now?
- What was the most fun you had this year?
- Who is someone you got to know better this year?
Gratitude Letter
I’d like to expand further on one of the questions asked earlier regarding gratitude. Gratitude is when you feel thankful for what you have in life and an appreciation for what is meaningful and valuable to you. In the process, people will recognise that the source of gratitude can be from the people around them or even themselves.
In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly related to greater happiness. It can help you to feel more positive emotions, build strong relationships, improve your health, and enjoy good experiences.
There are different ways we can feel and apply gratitude:
- Past: recalling positive memories and being thankful for past blessings
- Present: appreciating every good opportunity and experience by not taking it for granted
- Future: remain hopeful and optimistic for whatever comes in the future
One good way to express your gratitude is by writing a gratitude letter! Is there someone who made a real difference in your life this year? It could be a friend, teacher, relative, or even your role model. Take a few minutes to write down what you would thank this person for with specific examples of how they have impacted your life. You can also read other people’s favourite tips on practising gratitude in this NY Times article!
If you are not ready to send a letter to someone else, what about sending one to yourself? There is a website called FutureMe that helps you write an email that will be delivered to you in the next 6 months, 1 year, or any specific date you want. It is an amazing space to find some headspace, acknowledge your growth, and say thank you to yourself because you deserve it! While on our journey to become better, may we learn to celebrate how far we have come. I hope you enjoy this process of reflection and gratitude as you look back on the year that’s been.
