Reflections always have a funny way of sneaking up on me, surprising me when I least expect it. Sometimes, they come crashing in (“reality check” style), and other times, they feel like a spark of curiosity that simply won’t let go. Welcoming a New Year is definitely one of those times that elicits reflection upon reflection, and I love it!
This year, as the countdown began on December 31st (10, 9, 8…1), we all cheered, “Happy New Year!” I felt a flutter in my heart as my eyes welled up with tears. I looked around at the (now blurry) familiar faces and was overwhelmed with emotion—joy, gratitude, and hope for tomorrow. Three little words did all that!
This time of year, reflections seem to be a big part of everyone’s conversations. As we leave one year behind and step into the new one, many of us start making plans, dreaming big, and hoping for more, or simply better, in the year ahead. It’s a time to feel hopeful and to look forward to what’s to come. Those three words—“Happy New Year”—evoke a collective hope for healing the past and renewing optimism for the future.
While I don’t make lists of resolutions or set hard-and-fast goals for the New Year, that doesn’t mean I don’t have my own process for staying hopeful about what’s ahead. I have tried making vision boards and lists of goals in the past, but I’ve learned that my process looks a little different. I still want to be a little better, a little lighter, or simply more at peace when the next year rolls around.
This is why I tried different ‘techniques,’ but I found that I was staying in my head and not in my heart.
My process seemed to unfold somewhere between the holiday celebrations and the excitement of the New Year. I noticed that I was getting more reflective (yes, even more reflective than usual!), so I went with it.
Whether I meditate, pause to breathe, or drink more coffee than I probably should… somehow, I manage to tap into the quiet corners of my soul. It’s like I suddenly remember to slow down and listen to what my heart is trying to say. And something magical happens. There’s a beautiful energy of new beginnings. When my heart and soul feel aligned, I know what needs to happen next. It’s a matter of seeing it. And what better time than the start of a new year?
A new year is upon us—just saying it feels hopeful. The idea of a fresh start brings a little extra light into the world. It’s a perfect opportunity to heal the past and create space for the future. I’ve divided my New Year’s posts into three sections, as they have unfolded for me.
I’ll wrap up with a quote that ends this post and will flow into the next. It is by Albert Einstein: “When you examine the lives of the most influential people who have ever walked among us, you discover one thread that winds through them all. They have been aligned first with their spiritual nature and only then with their physical selves.” Healing is about so much more than fixing what’s broken. It’s about reconnecting spiritually and emotionally and realigning ourselves with what feels right, both inside and out.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year—filled with health, healing, and happiness! And so the journey continues…