The New Year is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a great opportunity for reflection, and intention-setting.
There is one ritual, in particular, that I look forward to doing every December or early January, as we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. It’s a soulful session that intertwines reflection, gratitude, and intentional vision.
The Ritual of Reflection and Intention
This is a ritual that always gets me into a wonderful state of gratitude and excitement. A truly great way to welcome in a new year. I highly recommend giving it a try!
Give yourself some time (at least an hour) to embark on this. Go into a quiet, relaxed environment that allows you to get into a good headspace. Diffuse your favorite essential oils or light a clean burning candle. Make yourself a steamy mug of tea, golden milk, hot chocolate, or something else cozy to sip on. Get out a notebook or a few clean sheets of paper and your favorite writing pen(s).
Reflecting on the Previous Year
Before jumping into intention or goal-setting for the year ahead, I find it absolutely necessary to first pause and reflect on the year that comes to a close. Reflecting on the past year allows me to cultivate gratitude for both the significant milestones and the small, beautiful moments that often go unnoticed. It’s a practice that shifts my focus from what I lack to what I have, fostering a mindset of abundance. It’s like cleansing the pallet.
I write down everything — from the grand milestones, like taking our first family trip to Disney, to the seemingly insignificant moments, that, in hindsight, meant so much, like building countless couch forts in the living room and making homemade popsicles. It’s a stroll down memory lane, guided by the snapshots in my camera roll. It’s a gratitude-filled journey that helps me recognize the beauty in the seemingly mundane and appreciate the richness each day brings.
When you write down all the things and begin to fill the page, you get to see the bigger picture and appreciate the year so much.
Setting Intentions: A Vision for the Year Ahead
With my heart full of gratitude, I seamlessly transition into the second phase of my ritual — setting intentions. But here’s the twist: these are not merely resolutions; they are powerful intentions for the year ahead. I learned a technique from Dean Graziosi, envisioning that it’s a year from now and I’m looking back, realizing it was the greatest year of my life.
I grab my pen and, with intention, write down the experiences as if they’ve already happened. From weekly date nights with Aaron, to weekly family game nights with the kids, and building a new back deck, these intentions become my “What’s” — the destination points that will shape the narrative of my year.
Once you have your list, go back through it. Read it, and actually believe that these things did happen for you. Feel the emotions that each accomplishment or experience brings. Feel gratitude for those things happening. Dr. Joe Dispenza teaches this subject well. He states that gratitude is the ultimate state of receivership. Being grateful for a desirable event that hasn’t happened yet opens up greater possibility for it happening.
The How’s: Transforming Intentions into Reality
With my “What’s” vividly outlined, it’s time to consider the “How’s.” How will I transform these intentions into reality? This is where the magic happens, where goals are dissected into actionable tasks. It’s not merely a to-do list but a strategic roadmap, a series of steps that will lead me towards the manifestation of my intentions.
If you embark on this new year ritual, I hope you enjoy the journey! Keep your intentions list present throughout the year. Don’t just tuck it away in a drawer or under a stack of things – I’ve been guilty of this for many years. Take a look at it regularly as a reminder of what it is you want to accomplish and experience this year.
Happy New Year. XO