With the year coming to an end, here are five creative ways to reflect on the year.
1. Draw a mandala
Carl Jung used to draw a mandala each day before he began work. Mandalas a considered a great expression of the internal world, even add some colour to gain even greater insight into what is happening inside. Take a moment to think about your 2018 and then get drawing – the result may surprise you!
2. Think about your year as a movie
First of all, what genre would it be? Drama? Action? Rom-com? Next think about who have been the main characters; your major conflicts; and of course, the resolutions to your problems. Ask yourself, were you the main character in your own movie? Be the protagonist of your story – you’re a star!
3. Take time to really think about what you’ve done this year
This can be done as a meditation over a few days or just by taking about 30 minutes to reflect. If you want to meditate on the idea there is popular a technique that many people use. On the first day of meditation begin by thinking about what you the day before, the following day think about the week prior, the next next day think about the month prior and then on the last day think about the year prior. Many people use this technique to reflect upon many years earlier. Before you go to sleep, as you are lying in your bed, is a great time to do this thought exercise.
4. Write a letter to your past self from the beginning of the year
Why not narrate your life back to yourself in the form of a letter? Not only is letter writing a lost art that can be very cathartic, often it isn’t until we put pen to paper that our ideas and thoughts crystallise. Write a letter to yourself from January as if you were writing to an old friend, recounting the major life events that have taken place and your plans for the future.
5. Throw away what you don’t need
This can be physical items, negative thoughts or relationships that no longer serve you. So of course, donate those clothes that have been sitting in your wardrobe all year – but what about those pesky thoughts and people that don’t make you feel good about yourself? Write down all the things you would like to remove from your life in the new year on separate pieces of paper. Now get rid of them in a ceremonious way. This can be by burning them (please practice fire safety!), ripping them up into tiny pieces, or throwing them out your window/off your balcony. Freedom!
Which of these did you find were useful for you? Sometimes we just need to look back and find ways to reflect on the past year to feel fully prepared to face the new one head on, feeling refreshed. And with a refreshed mind, you’ll be able to work better.
