This time of year can get so busy with many demands and festivities. It can be easy to overlook taking some time to reflect and celebrate all that has been good about the year and for all that you have in life.

I like to dedicate some quiet time with a notebook and to think about what has been great about the year, lessons learned that I have learned and what challenges have taught me and given me new insights.

This process helps me prepare and plan what I would like to achieve and experience in the forthcoming year.

There is also another task that I like to complete before the year concludes. For several years now I have kept a gratitude jar which I empty on New Year’s Eve. Throughout the year I make a note on a piece of notepaper (about the size of a post it note) of any wonderful experiences.

Examples of things that I make a note of include:

• Concerts that I attend or trips to the theatre/cinema

• Holidays and days out

• Nice meals and special time spent with loved one and friends.

• Instances of good fortune like winning money, unexpected windfalls,

• Birthday presents

• Interesting people that I meet and places that I visit

• Learning new things

• Someone sharing their wisdom with me

• Securing new clients and contracts etc.

• Act of kindness and positive feedback

When I have made a note of the things that I mentioned above, I put the date on it and write thank you. I then fold it up and place it in the gratitude jar.

Then on New Years Eve, I empty the jar, read all the notes and remind myself of the things that it is so easy to forget and take for granted. I have found it to be a really great way to finish a year on a positive note, to develop a sense of deeper level of gratitude and to look forward with anticipation to the New Year.

Also at this time of year, I spend some time reflecting on the year and planning for a positive New Year.

I take a notebook and spend a few hours answering a series of questions and noting my answers in the notebook, which I periodically review throughout the following year (normally at the end of each quarter).

I don’t always answer the questions in one session preferring to split my time into bite sized chunks over the course of a week. If it works better for you to answer the questions in one go, then do it that way, whatever you prefer and fits with your schedule.

I have found the following questions to be useful when reviewing the year and planning for the forthcoming one:

Review of the past year:

• What are my 5-10 highlights?

• What was the smartest decision I made?

• How have I grown and developed?

• What gave me the greatest happiness?

• What do I want to celebrate about this year?

• What lessons have I learned?

• What do I need to let go of from the past year?

Planning for the forthcoming year:

• What would I like to celebrate at the end of the year?

• What are main personal and professional goals in the forthcoming year?

• What are my financial goals for the forthcoming year?

• What steps do I need to take to improve/maintain my health and fitness?

• What can I do to improve my relationships?

• What would I like to add to, change or eliminate from my daily routine?

• What plans do I have to grow, develop and learn?

• What steps can I take to improve my happiness?

• How can I increase the amount of fun that I have?

Enjoy the New Year celebrations. I hope that the forthcoming year is a First Class one for you and is full of happiness, good health and abundance.

This week’s quotation:

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end” Seneca

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