Celebrating Growth & Transformation: Reflections at Year’s End
December is here, beckoning us inwards as we edge closer to the end of the year and the beginning of the next. As is often the case, the external world reflects back the season within. Entering winter invites us to press pause, to slow down, to pull our energy back and dive into our own roots more fully. Gathering ourselves inwards, renewing and nurturing our bodies, minds and spirits for the growth promised by the coming Spring. Winter reminds us of the sacred, the natural rhythms of death and rebirth, noticing how cycles repeat and yet are never the same. We see that in our own lives, we all have cycles of contraction and expansion, birth, death and renewal, rapid change and periods of integration. We are not separate from the seasons around us, we are an integral part of these seasons and they are an integral part of us. They serve as a tangible reminder of our own natural pace and the ever-changing nature of life.
As I make space for more contemplation I recognize the importance of acknowledging the growth and transformation that has occurred over the past year. We so often skip this critical step as we look towards the future and to what we want to bring into our lives in the coming year. This denies us the opportunity to celebrate ourselves, to truly appreciate all that we have done, overcome, learned, and lived. So much of the spiritual journey is done in isolation; moments of revelation, realization, and release that only you are aware of, that only you have lived and experienced. It is easy to skip ahead or to move on from these moments and focus on what comes next, but I am taking this time to invite some well deserved celebration and self-appreciation. We cannot expect others to do this for us, so we must do it for ourselves.
Invitation: Reflect on these questions or use them as a starting point for your own self-inquiry. When you do recognize something in yourself that you wish to celebrate, stop and say to yourself; “I am proud of you”, “I am amazed by my own strength/courage/dedication/fill in the blank.” Speak to yourself as if you were speaking to a beloved friend; “I love that you made your well-being a priority”, “I appreciate you speaking your mind when it mattered most to you”, “I love your ability to find humor in hard moments”, “I know that was not easy and I’m so proud of you for going for it” etc.
What have you done differently this year that broke a pattern from the past?
What did you invite into your life that offered you more comfort and ease?
Where did you invest your time and energy wisely and with discernment?
What did you let go of that was ready for release?
What did you realize about yourself that you had never known before?
What quality in you emerged this year that you carry with you into 2022?
Celebration may take many forms and it will be highly personal and vary depending on the moment. Today my celebration is recognizing my newfound ability to set boundaries without defensiveness, to be assertive and stand up for myself while remaining present, and to try new things that bring me joy, even in the face of deep fear. This year has gifted me greater awareness and clarity and I am choosing to celebrate all of the beautiful, often challenging steps that it took to get to this moment in time. I am choosing to pause, to take a moment to see myself fully and with great appreciation and love. I wish you all the best in this transitional phase, may you find peace and presence today and everyday.
With Love,
Joanne