Serene Closures: A Reflection on Growth and the Year That Was
As the final days of December rush by in a whirlwind of holiday chaos and year-end demands, it’s easy to find ourselves longing for it all to just be over. There’s so much to juggle, so many loose ends to tie up, and perhaps even a lingering sense of exhaustion from the year itself. But in rushing toward the finish line, we might miss a profound opportunity—a chance to pause and take stock of everything this year has been.
At its core, December offers us a space for reflection, a moment to step back and truly see our lives. And while it can feel like there’s no time to do this amidst the busyness, creating those moments of reflection—even briefly—can help us grow, adjust, and step into the new year with more clarity and intention. This is something I’ve explored deeply with my one-on-one clients and in my group meditation circles this month. We’ve been using meditation, writing, and creative practices to look back on the year, like paging through a cherished storybook, taking time to honor its every detail.
Meditation is such a powerful tool for this process. It allows us to sit with our experiences, to observe without judgment, and to notice the lessons and patterns woven into our journey. Through visualization and stillness, we begin to see the story of our year with fresh eyes—not just what happened, but how we’ve grown because of it.
For me personally, this practice has been deeply moving. As I reflect on my roles as a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a guide, and a business owner, I’m struck by how much I’ve changed over the past year. Each season has introduced me to a new version of myself. Some shifts felt smooth, while others required more patience and time to settle. But through it all, I’ve come to appreciate how much growth truly takes root beneath the surface before it ever blossoms into something visible.
This year has reminded me of the delicate balance between time and transformation—how a single year can feel both fleeting and monumental. As I approach my 40th year in 2025, I feel a deep desire to end this chapter of my life with intention, grace, and a sense of peace.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Reflecting on Your Year
If you’re craving a moment to pause amidst the busyness, here’s a simple, mindful process to reflect on your year:
Step 1: Meditate on Your Year
Find a quiet space (or as quiet as you can manage!). Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and visualize your year as a storybook. What stands out as you flip through its pages? What moments feel meaningful? Notice any emotions, themes, or lessons that arise. Let the story unfold naturally, without trying to control or edit it.
Step 2: Write It Down
Take time to journal about your reflections. Write about the seasons of your year—what you learned, how you’ve changed, and what you’ve discovered about yourself. Don’t worry about grammar or structure; just let your thoughts flow freely onto the page.
Step 3: Create a Letting-Go Ritual
If there are moments, habits, or fears you’re ready to release, honor them with a letting-go ritual. Write them down on small pieces of paper and burn them safely, tear them up, or bury them in the earth. This symbolic act can help you create space for what truly matters.
Step 4: Celebrate the Details
Look for the small, often-overlooked moments that brought you joy or meaning. Maybe it was a laugh shared with a friend, a quiet sunrise, or a hard-earned victory. Write these down, savor them, and let them remind you of the beauty woven into the everyday.
Step 5: Write Your Final Sentence
Before thinking ahead to the next year, take a moment to close this one. If this year was a book, how would you write its final sentence or phrase? What would you want this chapter to say about who you’ve become and where you are now?
There’s something powerful about consciously choosing how you want to end this year. It doesn’t have to be grand or poetic—just honest. By taking time to fully embrace the closure of 2023, you create a foundation for stepping into 2024 with clarity and intention.
(Tip: If you’d like a guided meditation to help you through this, I’ve created one on Insight Timer. You can find the link here.)
The Beauty of Taking Stock
Through this process of reflection, you might find that simply pausing to honor your year—without rushing ahead to the next—brings a sense of peace and clarity. It’s much like meditation itself: when we take the time to observe, acknowledge, and embrace what has happened, we naturally create space for growth, adjustment, and transformation.
For me, guiding others through this practice has been a reminder of how unique and beautiful each journey is. Reflection isn’t about achieving a specific outcome; it’s about being present with yourself, listening to your inner wisdom, and allowing the story of your year to settle into its rightful place.
If you’re reading this and feel called to explore your own story more deeply, I’d love to support you. My one-on-one Meditation Coaching sessions are a space for reflection, growth, and self-discovery, where meditation becomes a tool to help you uncover insights, process your experiences, and navigate your journey with intention.
Whether you’re looking to gain clarity, let go of the past, or simply create more space for yourself, I’m here to guide you. If this resonates with you, let’s connect through a discovery call to explore how meditation coaching can support you in your journey.