Another year is about to close it’s doors, and 2007 will open before us. For most, this past year was undoubtedly filled with many challenges. No matter how you faced these obstacles, whether you succeeded or failed in overcoming them, they also came with the wisdom of valuable life lessons. Each obstacle came with it’s own unique gift. Each darkness also held within it Light. It may not have seemed so at first. However, with retrospect and compassion for ourselves, we can move through disappointment to uncover the wisdom and strength offered us by the experience.

No matter how filled your year was with challenges, each day also brought much to be grateful for. This New Year’s Eve, before leaping into another set of resolutions, take some time to pause and reflect on the year gone by. Give yourself a gift of time for reflection, and time sit with yourself and review previous months. See how far you’ve come. See how wonderful you are, how resourceful, and how beautiful. Review what was accomplished. List the many things you were grateful for. List the successes you have had.

Look at your list of desires for last year, including what you did not accomplish. Reflect on whether those goals were important to you. Were they based on what you think you “should” be doing, or did they originate from your heart’s dreams? Are they worth putting back on this year’s list? What strengths will pursuing those goals uncover within you?

This is a perfect opportunity to compassionately reevaluate last year’s life, habits, and choices. Did your beliefs and actions bring more peace to you and those around you? Did they expand joy and fulfillment? Did you create meaningful experiences? The purpose of reflection is to reconnect with who you are and notice where you’ve been. By looking backward, we can decide to “turn the page” on what we no longer desire, and move forward in a heartfelt direction.

Year End Questions

As we end the year, it seems particularly fitting to devote some time to reflecting on the year past and where we find ourselves as the new beginning is upon us. We revisit the past to gain some insight into the future. An honest, non-judgmental self-analysis can be beneficial to gain a clear picture of what was. The following questions can stimulate your thinking for this process. Reflect upon your choices, how you felt, what you liked, what you didn't, and what you learned. Look at yourself and your experience with as much objectivity (love) as you can. You alone are responsible for your attitude, your choices, your focus, and making your dreams reality. You can, to a astonishing degree, create the life you want. Use your power and choose well.

1. Did I expand love within myself, and those around me?

2. Did I bring more peace into myself, and into the world?

3. Did I motivate myself with excitement and love, creating a joyful process on the way to fulfilling my dreams?

4. What were my successes and achievements?

5. How have I grown this year (wiser, more loving, more compassionate)?

6. Did I connect deeply with the creative spirit of life?

7. Did I express my gifts and talents?

8. What did I learn (skills, knowledge, awareness, etc.)

9. What would I have done differently? Why?

10. What still feels incomplete to me?

11. What am I resisting doing?

12. What character traits do I desire to cultivate in the coming year?

Allow a quiet moment to stop and notice yourself. Take stock of how wonderful you already are. Who you are is more valuable than what you do. Because of who you are, the people who come into your world are touched and changed. Your very presence effects others. Your worth as a person is not based on your intelligence, your income, or how hard you work. It is enough to be you. The ideas you have, the feelings you possess, the words that live in your heart are the important things. This year, live life true to your own Spirit.

May peace prevail within you,

Happy New Year . . .

Dr. Annette Colby, RD
http://www.LovingMiracles.com