The year is done! Actually, it’s overdone. It’s burnt, dry, and tough. It’s bone charred. It has burned down the entire kitchen. It’s grown into a structure fire that has spread across the globe causing a planetary inferno.
Soooo, just checking in: how did you do?
How did you survive this year?
I think we all need to take a lot of time reviewing 2020 in both our personal and our collective experience. A lot has happened and most of us are in very different situations compared to the beginning of the year. In order for us to integrate all the lessons we learned we need to take stock of where we started, what our goals were at the beginning of the year, how we lived up to our values and how we handled the chaos that is 2020.
Looking back at the first month or two of the year we seemed so innocent and naive compared to the end of what will go down in this generation’s history as the worst year the world has seen.
So take out your journal or a couple of pieces of paper and let’s start reflecting! We want to make sure that we are squeezing some wisdom concentrate out of all the pain we’ve been going through.
If you would like to make this session more special you can take a bath, dilute a couple of drops of lavender essential oil in a carrier oil and massage your body, do some breathing and mediation, light some incense or a candle, and sit in a spot you love.
Now reflect!
2020 High Points
Let’s start with the high points. The year wasn’t’ all bad. I swear.
What were some things that went well this year? Did you keep your job? Did you get unemployment checks? Did you spend more time with your family?
Ask yourself what you’re grateful for whether that be your health, clean water, family, reflective alone time, the beauty of nature, etc.
What goals were you able to achieve? Even if it’s something as simple and sweet as getting a good night’s sleep! That could be a major feat when considering all the stress we’ve been feeling. Did you plant an herb garden? Did you help someone get through a panic attack?
What worked for you this year? Did you spend less time on social media? Did you create a morning routine or finally find time to do that project or read that book?
Write it all down.
2020 Dark Moments
Here we reflect on all that didn’t go our way or just plain sucked: plans derailed, feeling isolated and lonely, mental health deterioration, estranged friendships, broken relationships, facing your inner shadow, evictions, money lost, loss of faith, anger at police brutality and racial injustice…
Just really let it all out here. If you feel safe to, let yourself feel any residual or current emotions that haven’t processed yet. Take your time and write it all down.
And now, dance it out.
I like to move my body after getting fired up and angry. Put on some music and move your emotions out of your body. Dancing and shaking are my favorite tools for this but maybe you like running or kickboxing. Maybe you need to talk to someone about it to help you process things. Make sure you ask if it’s okay to vent with them for a little while about some heavy things. We are all holding a lot right now and it’s important to share the load, but it’s also important not to dump our stuff on unsuspecting friends.
2020 Lessons Learned
This is where we integrate.
After looking at all the moments that made you angry, sad, or frustrated, ask yourself what was it about them that caused such a strong feeling response? What were the values that were being disrespected? What boundaries were crossed?
Our powerful negative emotions can tell us a lot about what we want out of life, how we want to be treated, what we care about and feel is extremely important to us. To know these things about ourselves is invaluable. I’m sure we all have a lot to go over in this area and that we’ve been working through it as the year went on.
Try to uncover the general theme of how you view the world. Is everyone always out to get you? Do you feel like you’re always forced into things you don’t really want? Do you feel like you’re always being taken advantage of? Do you feel frustrated by everyone’s stupidity? What has been your assumed place in the world?
Now how can you change that view around? How can you prove yourself wrong?
What did you unexpectedly find you were capable of?
Emerging New You
Once we can see how much we learned about ourselves it seems to uncover a new person. An emerging you. Or maybe it’s just the person we’ve always been but never gave voice to.
What do you want to do differently in the future? What patterns do you want to break within yourself? If you tend to lose your patience with those close to you and lash out, how can you take steps to cool those fires? What tools can you use to make sure that you are becoming a better version of yourself in 2021?
Version 2021
Now that you’ve reviewed and reflected on the year you’ve had and all that you’ve been through, congratulate yourself! Celebrate in your own way!
This year was not easy. I feel like we’ve all had to level up in order to survive. We’ve taken stock of our lives, seen the cracks in our foundation, found what’s really important, and now begins the work: repair, reform, reconstruct, rearrange, regenerate, and revolutionize,
You’re ready for the New Year. We all are.
We can hope that it will be better, but instead of just relying on hope, we need to take some action based on all the excavations we have been doing.
I know more of us than ever will be moving forward more consciously in 2021 and that makes me feel hopeful.