New Year’s resolutions. Goals. Changes. “New year, new you.”
There’s a lot of hype around all of it, but what actually helps us move forward in a meaningful way?
As this is being shared on New Year’s Eve, many of us are in a rare pause. Work slows down. We spend time with family and friends. There’s space to breathe, recharge, and reflect.
And that’s exactly what makes this moment so powerful.
Instead of rushing to set resolutions or pressure yourself to have everything figured out, I want to offer something different: Reflection before action.
Below are six questions to help you look back on the past year, and look forward with clarity, intention, and purpose.
1. What gave me energy this year, and what drained it?
Take a look at your calendar. Your projects. Your commitments.
Where did your energy flow freely? When were you in your genius zone – those moments when you felt engaged, alive, and capable of giving your best?
And just as important: What consistently drained you?
This question alone can reshape how you approach the year ahead.
2. Which relationships bring me life, and which ones need boundaries?
Relationships matter deeply.
Some energize us, support us, and help us grow. Others, intentionally or not, drain us.
You don’t always need to walk away from relationships, but you can establish healthier boundaries. And sometimes, it’s okay to let go of connections that no longer serve who you’re becoming.
3. Where has my mindset changed this year?
Instead of only asking, “What did I learn?”, ask something deeper:
- How has my view of myself changed?
- How do I see the world differently?
- Where did my beliefs shift?
Growth often shows up first as a change in perspective. Recognizing that helps anchor the progress you’ve already made, and points toward what’s next.
4. What were my top 10 highs and lows of the year?
Map them out on a timeline.
Celebrate the highs with gratitude. Reflect on the lows with appreciation for what they shaped in you.
Life is full of peaks and valleys, and both can be meaningful teachers when we take time to honor them.
5. Who do I want to become this year?
This isn’t about tasks or achievements, it’s about identity.
- How do you want to show up?
- What kind of person do you want to be known as?
- How do you want others to experience you?
The powerful truth is this: You don’t have to wait to become that person. You can begin embodying that identity right now.
6. What do I want to start, stop, and keep doing?
Now we turn insight into action.
Based on everything you’ve reflected on:
- What should you start doing?
- What needs to stop?
- What’s already working that you want to keep?
When actions are aligned with awareness, change becomes far more sustainable.
A Simple Invitation
I encourage you to set aside some quiet time. Grab a journal. Put on music that helps you relax. Remove distractions.
Let these questions guide you.
And if you do this exercise, I’d love to hear how it goes – what insights you uncover and what direction feels clearer for the year ahead.
Here’s to an intentional year! One shaped not by pressure, but by purpose.
Happy New Year!
Watch more in the video below:
