How are we already here? The last week of 2021, the last week of an entire year. It’s crazy to me how fast it actually went by, especially because so much happened. But, just like the end of any year, traditions are alive and well. From gathering for a family photo to making old family recipes, there’s no limit to the traditions that arise from time spent with family, friends, or any form of loved ones.

In fact, traditions can even be started individually. From wearing an annual festive sweater to buying your dog their favorite treat to stuff in their stocking. In honesty, traditions don’t even have to be centered around the holidays. One of my favorite traditions actually centers around the entire year. It’s only done around the same time each year which happens to be during the holidays.

Recap, reflection, and resolution. Without these 3 things, I don’t feel I’d be as confident or prepared heading into the new year. It takes some time to do, and it can be a challenging process at first. But like a muscle, the more we incorporate it into our lives, the easier it becomes to continue using it without as much pain or struggle. I’ll walk you through it, or at least how I do it. Hopefully it can help spark your own ideas on how to start the process yourself!

Recap

I start with a recap because it doesn’t necessarily involve the deep, critical thinking yet. I don’t have to get caught up in the feelings part of it just yet, I can just brainstorm basically. First I take inventory of everything that happened during the year, from start to finish. What happened in January? What about February? And so on and so forth. I don’t just list every single thing either. I only write it down if it’s significant in some way, and make sure to space it all out.

And you’re the judge of what is considered significant in your life, because, well, it’s your life. I write all mine down on a piece of paper. I don’t worry about putting the date by it, I just go in chronological order so I don’t miss or overlook something. List significant events, choices, and news that happened this year. Don’t worry about whether it was a positive or negative thing in your eyes. If it was in any way significant enough for you, put it down.

Don’t feel like you have to go overboard on this step either. It’s okay if you only have 4 or 5, but it’s also okay if you have 10. The point is if it mattered at all to you, write it down. One reason I do this is because it really does blow my mind sometimes how much actually happened to me this year. Another reason is a reminder of how much butt I kicked when I may have not felt like it. But the last reason is because it’s necessary for steps 2 and 3.

Reflection

After I have everything written down that happened, the feelings analysis is next. I go through everything I wrote down and write next to it how it made me feel. Was it a good feeling or a bad feeling? What kind of good or bad feeling was it? Excitement or anxiety? Happiness or apathy? It can be a hard time to go through all of your feelings, but it’s important to allow ourselves to feel them instead of let them build up.

Even if you’re not the type to let your feelings build up, there’s a chance you might not have been able to feel them out properly. A lot of times we can be so busy that we may understand what we’re feeling at the time but we’re so focused on the next thing we have to do that we don’t fully feel it through. This time of reflection is a good time to not only do that, but also reflect on what part of it exactly is what made us feel that way.

Again, don’t feel like you have to go overboard on this step. You don’t have to write a paragraph for each thing that happened. Just get to the heart of it. How did this make me feel and what is it specifically that made me feel that way? It helps me take inventory of things that I was truly happy to have happen and things I either could’ve avoided or can learn from moving forward. It’s also necessary for step 3.

Resolution

Now that I’ve taken inventory of everything significant that happened during the year and I’ve reflected on those experiences, it’s time to make my NY resolution(s). The reason I do this entire process is because it sets me up better for success and happiness. The experiences that made me feel good in any way I try to incorporate more of. The experiences that made me feel bad in any way I try to avoid from the lessons I learned from them.

So as you can see, happiness is more often brought into life purposely. But, it also helps make resolutions that we’re more likely to stick to because of the happiness effect it brings. That way we’re not making a resolution to lose a bunch of weight if that’s not really what’s going to make us genuinely happy. Or any other pointless resolution that we might not stick to because we picked it solely based on an attractive outcome.

This is the 3rd year in a row that I decided to read a book a month, and the feeling it brings me from finishing each one is just as joyful as the previous. This next year, a new resolution that I aim to accomplish is to get out more. By that, I mean try new restaurants, explore new cities (if not states or countries!), and meet new people. I plan to talk to more people, be less afraid to be myself regardless of who I’m around, and get out of my day-to-day routine every once in a while.

Related: How To Be A Step Ahead For The New Year

R & R… & R

So what do you think? Is this a tradition you can get behind? What about some of your loved ones? Studies show success rates are higher when we have an accountability partner. Whether or not someone does want to join in with you or not, tell people! Chances are you’ll not only inspire yourself to achieve, but you’ll inspire others too. So go ahead, how about a little R & R & R?

And as always, thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas and others alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:

With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth To Momma