2024: What Did You Learn?

As the New Year approaches, there is a great deal of focus and attention on creating resolutions for the year ahead: What will I do differently? What will I start or stop? Not surprisingly, many resolutions falter within the first month or two of the year.

This January, instead of declaring what you will start or stop, I invite you to first reflect on what you have learned over the past year. If you’re feeling stuck, take a moment to look over your calendar and review activities, events, accomplishments, and growth moments. If you keep a journal, it can be incredibly enlightening to revisit the words, feelings, and clarity you may have captured on the page. If you don’t currently have a journaling practice, this could be the perfect time to start one. Whether you prefer pen and paper or capturing thoughts electronically, journaling offers numerous benefits.

There are countless articles online discussing the advantages of journaling. Here is just one concise list from Kaiser Permanente:

• Achieve goals

• Track progress and growth

• Gain self-confidence

• Improve writing and communication skills

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Find inspiration

• Strengthen memory
  

By setting aside time to revisit your journal entries, you can gain valuable clarity about who you are, what is most important to you, how you have grown, and what truly matters in your life. Ask yourself: What did you learn this past year, both about yourself and your close relationships? What are you most grateful for? Was there a dream that you put on hold? This reflective feedback can help you identify meaningful insights and guide your intentions for the year ahead.

Take the time to engage in this “year in review” exercise—free from distractions—and you may uncover unexpected gifts. These moments of reflection can inspire a more thoughtful, purposeful approach to the coming year, ensuring that your goals and actions align with your deepest values.