5 Simple But Powerful Tips for Reflecting and Being Grateful This New Year

As the year is drawing to a close and Spotify Wrapped is giving us a recap of our year-long listening habits, we can't help but reflect on everything that has happened in the last 365 days.

Whether it was good or bad, we all experienced a lot of change in 2021. It's important to take some time to reflect on the past year and be grateful for everything - the good and the bad - that has happened. Here are five simple but powerful tips for reflecting and being grateful this new year:

#01: Practice gratitude by writing down three things you're grateful for each day

A 2005 study shows that writing down three things that are going well in your life diminishes depressive symptoms and increases happiness. This could be about anything - from your health, to your family, to your friends. It's a great way to set the tone for your day and remind yourself of all the good in your life.

#02: Make a list of your accomplishments

It's easy to get bogged down by the things that didn't go well this year, but it's important to also focus on your accomplishments. Make a list of all the things you achieved in 2021. This could be anything from landing your dream job to buying your dream house, to starting a new relationship. Focusing on your accomplishments will help you feel more positive about the year that has passed.

#03: Journal about your thoughts and feelings

Journaling is a great way to process your thoughts and feelings. It can be helpful to journal about the good, bad, and ugly of the year that has passed. This can help you to identify any patterns or themes in your life and help you to move on from negative experiences.

#04: Reflect on your relationships

The relationships we have are some of the most important things in our lives. Take some time to reflect on the relationships in your life. What were the high points? The low points? What do you hope to change about the relationships in your life? Reflecting on these questions can help you see what is important to you and what needs some attention.

#05: Remember that reflection does not end with this new year

Reflecting at the end of one year and beginning a new one is helpful but it doesn't have to end there. You can reflect on your life at any time. If something big happens in your life, take some time to process what happened and how you felt. Reflecting is a lifelong practice that can help us grow and learn more about ourselves.

As you reflect on your successes and failures of this year, take the time to appreciate what you’ve done well. It doesn't matter if it was big or small—you deserve to be proud of yourself for everything that happened in 2021. And don’t forget about all those people who have helped you along the way! Remembering how lucky we are encourages us to show gratitude towards others.

Which one of these five reflection tips do you plan on trying first? Sign up for our newsletter so we can send you more timely, relevant content like this throughout 2022!

Peace Love Panda

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