Do you want to continue the momentum or reset for the New Year? Here's how...

As the year draws to a close, I pause to reflect and acknowledge the journey that 2023 has been, and man! I feel like my 2023 was a compilation of 5 years - or at least it FELT like it. Besides ending a toxic relationship (of my choice, my Dad reminds me) of twenty-two years, I was recovering from a severe car accident that sidelined me all of 2022, and the deaths of two of my siblings, one from murder, and the other from sepsis, and I was, for a better word, "emotionally flatlined"

But I am happy.

Amidst all of that Life'n, I learned a lot about myself, realized my potential and awesomeness for surviving, and started planning my next great adventure in anticipation of wonder things to come, people to meet, and lives to impact.

Now I have to be honest. I don't celebrate the New Year. My New Year starts on my birthday, so for me, this is halftime, baby, because my birthday is in June.

But I wanted to share what I do to Reset, Refocus, and Re-engage the relationships in my life starting with, you guessed it ME. The end of the year offers a valuable opportunity for introspection—a chance to take stock of the goals achieved, lessons learned, and my favorite, your personal growth experienced. By doing a reflective assessment of the year gone by, you can set the momentum for an empowered and purposeful launch into the promising possibilities of 2024.

The Power of Reflection

Reflection is a powerful tool for personal development. Reviewing your accomplishments, challenges, and the overall trajectory of the year allows you to gain clarity and perspective. It's a chance to celebrate the victories, big or small, and appreciate the lessons that may have come from setbacks or pauses.

Begin your reflection by revisiting the goals you set at the beginning of the year. What did you aspire to achieve? What were the milestones you aimed for? Please be sure to note down the goals you accomplished and recognize the progress made, even if some goals evolved or shifted along the way. This exercise is not about dwelling on what didn't happen but rather appreciating the journey and growth that occurred.

Cultivating Gratitude

Gratitude has the power to transform our outlook on life. As you reflect on the year, cultivate a sense of gratitude for the experiences, relationships, and opportunities that came your way. Consider creating a gratitude list, acknowledging the people who supported you, the challenges that made you stronger, and the moments that brought joy. Whatever you appreciate, appreciates, so Gratitude builds a positive mindset and sets your energy in the right direction for a more optimistic approach to the future.

Anticipation for the New Year

With a grateful heart, turn your attention to the upcoming year—2024. Instead of merely setting resolutions, consider framing your goals as intentions and aspirations. What kind of person do you want to become in the next year? What experiences do you want to invite into your life? Setting intentions allows for a more flexible and growth-oriented mindset, fostering a sense of anticipation for the possibilities that lie ahead.

Building Momentum for Success

Starting the new year with momentum involves translating reflection and gratitude into actionable steps that you can do without overwhelming yourself and talking yourself out of taking action. I use my 1% strategy where I take my actionable steps into weekly steps that I have to do, no matter what.

For example, If I was writing a book (and I've written two during my pause) my 1% would start with the idea, and what I would want my readers to gain from reading my book, then I outline the steps to take the readers there, and then I just write.

Creating a vision board, outlining your intentions for the year, and visualizing the desired outcomes don't matter to a hill of beans if you don't have an action strategy to keep the energy and the momentum.

Consider adopting habits that align with your aspirations and your spirit. For me, I've adopted the habit of prioritizing my self-care because that's what fills me to give to anyone who needs me in the course of my day (My course Project SeLFLoVe will be launched soon, and yes, this is a shameless plug)

Whether it's incorporating mindfulness practices, establishing a consistent morning routine, or prioritizing self-care, these habits are important for you as we prepare to bring in the New Year with a positive mindset and sustained momentum throughout the year.

Conclusion

2023 I've let go of a lot of things, but the most important thing that I learned in 2023, was PATIENCE. Patience allows the universe, your high power, GOD, energy, label IT how you feel it resonates to you, to work and puts you in RECIEVE mode. Sounds easy right, no, it's not, it's a constant struggle and as I write this right now, I'm at my Ole man and all weekend he's been telling me to be patient, so I guess I'm still working on that.

So as you bid farewell to 2023 and embrace the newness of 2024, let reflection, gratitude, and anticipation be your guiding lights. Celebrate the victories, no matter how small, acknowledge the lessons, don't be so hard on yourself, and step into the future with a sense of purpose and excitement. By doing so, you not only set the stage for personal growth and success but also create a sustainable foundation for a year that promises to be filled with possibility and fulfillment based on intentional actions.

Here to the end of 2023 and I wish everyone a reflective end and a remarkable beginning!

Always be STRETCHING!