Our Year in Review | Planning a Joyful & More Peaceful New Year
It’s that time of year!
Not only is it the time of year to celebrate Christmas and all of the fun that comes with it, but also it’s the time of year to assess the year we’ve lived, what we are proud of, not so proud of, and what changes we intentionally want to make for this new year.
If you’re like me, this concept of thinking over your year and making intentional change sounds a little foreign. It was definitely foreign to me until I started thinking about being more intentional about my life several years ago. You see, we’re so busy just making TODAY happen, how in the world we are supposed to slow down enough to truly think about the WHY of it all? Do we intentionally plan our days, or do the worries and cares of this life simply have us drifting off into the sea of uncertainty and apathy?
In this post, I want to share with you the steps I take in this annual practice, and how I hope you’ll embrace this same exercise with me as we embark upon a new year.
Step 1: Get Quiet
You’ll want to begin this exercise with me in a quiet location and at a quiet time.
If you need to get up earlier than normal, please do it. It’s just once a year! In year’s past, I used to book a trip away from my home to ensure I had the time and space to escape day-to-day living and be able to think clearly about the task at hand. However, it’s not necessary to leave your home. Get up early tomorrow, make yourself a special coffee or tea, and journey with me.
Step 2: Paper, Pen & Thoughts - Write About Your Year
No devices allowed here, ladies! We’re going to do this exercise completely on paper. This will help us stay focused, and allow us to go deeper with our thoughts than we normally do.
Jot down the answers to these questions to get started, then just free-flow it until you’ve written everything you can about this year.
What were the highlights of this year?
What were some of your favorite moments?
What did you learn about this year? What are you most proud of?
What has been your heart condition this year? Hurried? Overwhelmed? Sad? Anxious? Joyful? Content? Why has this been the condition of your heart?
What were 2-3 of your biggest challenges this year? Why were these challenges this year?
Did you solve any of these challenges?
What is the top challenge you want to take into the new year to improve or eliminate?
If you could sum up this year in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
Step 3: Plan the New Year
Hold on, I’m not asking you to make a big, gigantic, overwhelming task list here! The last thing any of us ladies needs is a long and drawn-out task list! : )
What we are going to do instead is think high-level about the upcoming year, the type of person we want to be, what we want to do for others and what we want to achieve.
Here are some questions to help you get started:
What do you want to be most proud of at this same time next year?
Are there any relationships you want to begin or improve?
Are there any relationships you need to distance yourself from or end altogether?
Is there something you want to start doing that you didn’t do, or didn’t do consistently, this year?
Are there things you want to stop doing next year? Why do you want to stop those things?
What do you want your heart condition to be this next year?
How do you want to grow spiritually and personally this year?
Step 4: Summarize Your New Year
Now, the fun part! I want you to look over everything you’ve written down. Pray over it, think about it, and really allow the words you’ve written down to seep down deep into your heart.
After you’re reviewed everything, I want you to take out a fresh piece of paper, and write a summary of your plans for the New Year. You do not need to worry with setting goals, making (another!) task list, or figuring out the HOW you are going to do this. Just write freely about your dreams and desires for this new year in a 1-3 paragraph summary.
Step 5: Pray and Meditate on Your Summary
Invite God into this conversation. Pray over this summary. Ask that He show anything else to you that you should add, remove or change. Ask that he lead and guide you as you take daily steps to make your dreams a reality. Look and listen for God’s direction in your daily life.
For example, if you find yourself feeling anxious or stressed about a situation, start praying about the situation and believe that he cares even more about your anxiety than you do! Ask him to help lead you through it. Pray about why you feel the anxiety. Do you lack faith? Are you not sure of the direction you are to take? Again, pray about it and ask for guidance.
As we wrap up this post, let me advise something that will make a lasting, permanent and joyful change in your life. Make it a daily habit to spend time reading the Bible daily. God literally IS the Word. Spend time with him. Allow Him to reveal himself through the scriptures. He is right there, waiting for you to meet with Him. He’s always been there. Will you join him today?
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this exercise. May you be blessed and ever more fruitful as you grow in the knowledge of Christ and who you are in Him.
