Happy holidays everyone! Although, we call it happy, not everyone is happy, during these times. There are some who are grieving, struggling mentally, financially, or physically, also dealing with other difficulties in their lives right now. This can be a happy time for some, but a sad time for others. Happiness shouldn’t be forced, during this time. It is okay to be sad, upset, tired, lonely etc,. Forcing happiness won’t help. Accepting these low emotions will help one move forward sooner. Just ty to bare through, and do the best you can. Feeling happiness, joy and excitement are not necessary, even if society depicts it that way.
This was a year of change. A year to adapt. A year to cope. Although, this can happen any year. The same thing hit us all at the same time. Plans needed to be changed, or canceled. We had to learn to live life differently. It may have been hard, but we came through it. We learned to adapt. We learned to cope. We can look at this year in a bad light, but you can also find some good, positives, and things to appreciate this year. Change is hard, but it help us grow. Change is inevitable, whether you want it or not, so accepting it is the best option. Why questions will get you nowhere, but figuring out ways to cope, and deal with this new change will set you free.
The pandemic will not end in the new year. It will seep into 2021 as well. We got to try to make the best, and enjoy our lives as much as we can. I am sure you can find some great experiences you had this year, and you can find things that you appreciate in your life at the moment. 2020 was a year of learning and adapting for all us. We should go into every year expecting change, and a need to adapt. Change doesn’t always happen on our time, so preparation is important. It creates less pain in the future.
Lets go into the new year with a mindful mindset. Hoping for the best, but aware that the worse could happen. That struggles will appear. That life is unpredictable. It has good and bad moments. The new year won’t be perfect. Your life doesn’t automatically change in the new year. Things don’t reset. But you can always make changes. You can always make things better for oneself. You can always improve and evolve. And that are some of the beauties in life. Lets look forward to the new year for our continuation of growth through our progress for personal development.
I prepared a couple of reflection/planning questions as well. If you like to go through them that would be great. I think it is important to reflect and plan at the end of the year. This helps show how far you have come, and how you can grow. It also helps to put things into perspective. I also answered the first six myself. Hopefully these question will be helpful.
2020 Reflection Questions
1.Positives of the year?: Becoming a plant owner, connecting with family and friends, going on a trip to the beach, being more mindful
2.Challenges of the year?: Being quarantined, things being restricted, due to covid 19,
3.Things that benefited me this year?:Being mindful, being a plant owner, learning to cope and accept difficult emotions
4.Things I learned this year?:To be aware of my emotions, and that all emotions are valid and necessary. Connecting with others is important.
5.How Did I grow this year?: Learning to be more at peace with myself, learning to cope and accept all emotions, learning not to allow social media to control my mindset
6.Achievements this year?: Buying a more reliable car, making more visits to the dentist, being more at peace with myself and life, keeping my plants alive, getting employee of the month, started writing my book.
Here are some others to think about.
What are my thoughts of 2020?
What were my challenges? How did I cope?
What new experiences did I have?
What can I improve on for next year?
What can I take with me into 2021?
What can I get rid of in 2021?
What positive habits have you gained this year? What would you like to gain next year?
What negative habits would you like to lose next year?
What are you proud of this year?
What goals do you want to achieve next year? What are the short term pains? What are the long term gains? Can you make the short term pains manageable? Are there ways to overcome them?
Psychology of Mindfulness 