How to end 2017 on a mindful note!

A Journal Exercise to help us tap into our best selves…

It will soon be time to set resolutions for the start of the new year. Before we start preparing for next year, let’s close out the current year on a positive note. Some of us may already be checked out and eagerly awaiting the start to next year, while some of us are still finishing up tasks at home or work. And some of us might be reflecting back with a sense of accomplishment or maybe incompleteness? Most of us, myself included, are very hard on ourselves, we can tend to overestimate how much we can accomplish in any given period. I was experiencing some stress and pressure as I was trying to wind down and complete certain tasks before year-end, but in the midst of it, I realized I needed to let go and let things fall into place slowly. The spiritual lesson for me was that I need to: 1) check in and accept the current state for what it is, 2) let go of things that do not serve me 3) reflect and learn from the past year but don’t dwell there 4) set up in a way to be well positioned for the coming year.

Here is the journal exercise I did to get more mindful before the year ends, completing this gave me a lot of peace.

Action plan before year-end:

1. Gather up never ending to-do’s: I jotted down all my to-do’s, the near-term, the reaches, the dreams, the goals, and anything else I could think of.  I collected this from various different sources (kudos to you if you have them in one spot already!)  my planner, post-its, email … wherever you may have scribbled them down. Dumping it all in one place took the stress of it out of my mind and onto paper where I could plan accordingly.
   
2. Prioritize & Let go: Comb through the list with an honest eye and prioritize things to accomplish for next year. There is nothing wrong with needing more time to finish something or wanting to push it off as other things take priority. There are the things that may just come off forever. Maybe you thought you needed to do it at one time and now it doesn’t fit and that’s that! Lastly, here is where people may disagree with me, BUT is there anything that is in your control and needs that one last push from you for you to feel more content and at peace. I mean is there something on there (not the whole list) but a couple of small items or one big item that if you just dedicate the time you can still knock out before the year ends? Now be realistic about what you can take on between your family, friends and the holidays.  I personally had one pending assignment that I could have let slip by, but it was not feasible to procrastinate as it needed to be completed before December 31st. I asked myself how I would feel if this assignment never got completed? The answer, surprisingly, was simple.  I would regret not completing this task.
   
3. Allocate time and complete: I took it on, dropped the excuses and create the game plan to get it done. And on day one of working towards this project I already felt empowered and happier (so crazy), Now I am making a plan to set aside a time every day till the year ends for it.  I plan on completing this task and a few others that are within my control (not everything on my to-do list)! I hope you are able to complete a few items that set the start of next year on the right tone for you! Allow other things to just be and come to fruition as they are meant to with time and patience (something I am still learning how to do).
   

Maybe for most of you, all you needed was to collect the to do’s and goals and make a road map for the year ahead, and voila you are done to go enjoy the holidays. Through this check-in journal exercise, I hope we can let go of what does not serve us and makes us feel overwhelmed and cultivate trust that with our attention & action all will come together exactly as it is meant to! Another advantage of doing this exercise at this time of year is that it will put you ahead for the new year and this can make us feel even more empowered!