How time flies! As we come to the end of the year 2021, let’s take a moment to process the year and what it has brought us. Self-reflection is a practice that supports awareness, which in turn can support living a life that is more in line with your wants and needs. In this blog, I will be presenting some reflective questions to support you in your process of taking into account the different events that you experienced in 2021 and how these experiences reflect back on you and your growth as a person.
What did you achieve this past year?
Acknowledging the things you did well can support you to recognise your skills and give space for yourself to celebrate those moments when you achieved success, no matter how small. In a fast moving world, such accomplishments can be forgotten or not given the attention they deserve. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back for what you were able to achieve!
What lessons did you learn in 2021?
Lessons can be life-altering or they may seem small and not meaningful at first glance. Reflecting on such lessons you learnt can support you to acknowledge where there is room for improvement. You can identify tips on how to manage a situation better or an easier way of getting what you need. Such lessons give you a direction towards understanding how you can continue building on what you have learnt for a more fulfilling future.
What mistakes did you make along the way?
Although it is not helpful to dwell on mistakes for too long, it is important to acknowledge them in order to support your growth. Reflecting on mistakes can also serve as an opportunity for you to set goals for the upcoming year in order to continue your self-improvement.
How can you prepare for a better year next year?
Invest time into reflecting about how you can improve yourself over the coming year. What would support you to be able to achieve your goals? You may find that you need to be able to set better boundaries with family members or be able to say “no” to events you don’t want to invest time in. Alternatively, you may identify the need to invest more time into building new skills.
What are you passionate about?
Such reflection may not be directly related to the previous year but it can provide perspective as to where you want to invest your energy in the upcoming one. Such reflection can also help you identify what you are not passionate about and why that is. Remember, it is easier to invest your time and energy into things you are driven towards, and being able to do more things you are passionate about can support you to live a more fulfilling life.
As I reflected on writing this blog, I came across the song “I’m still here”, a song from the Broadway musical, ‘Follies’, that really encapsulates the motif that no matter what I have experienced in life, I am still here. Regardless of how positive or negative this past year has been, let’s take a moment to appreciate that no matter what life has thrown at us, we are still here.
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Petra Borg is a Trainee Gestalt Psychotherapist currently reading for a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy from the Gestalt Therapy Institute Malta (GPTIM) and working at Willingness as a Trainee Psychotherapist. She has experience as a Triage Officer and has also worked closely with Willingness over several years, coordinating the international internship programme and providing support over diverse events and initiatives.