End-Of-Year Reflections
In 2011, I began a practice of writing letters to myself at the end of each year. These letters serve as a means to reflect on the events of the past year, as well as to make a few predictions about the future. This intentional act of introspection was my early version of end-of-year reflections: by taking the time to look back on our experiences and commit to our aspirations in writing, we enhance the probability of bringing them to fruition.
To support you with your own end-of-year reflections, in this post I’ve organized mine into sections and included inspiring questions, along with some answers of my own to share a few personal reflections with you.
Highlights & Achievements
Questions
Personal Reflections
- Launched this blog, which has been a long-time goal of mine.
- Traveled to 17 countries across 4 continents.
- Faced my fears to quit my corporate job, gave up my apartment and lived out of a suitcase in order to follow my gut.
- Spent a lot of time with family & friends across the globe. A big highlight was a trip to the US over the summer (I used to live in the States) where I got to see and reconnect with a lot of my friends whom I haven’t seen since 2017.
- Started learning Spanish and attended a language school for a month in Spain.
Highlights & Achievements
My Blog
Traveling to Africa
Family Time in USA
Language Course in Spain
Challenges Faced & Lessons Learned
Questions
Personal Reflections
- No apartment and job comes with a lot of uncertainty.
- Living out of a suitcase requires some sacrifices such as no home base, not having all your clothing or not being able to seek the comfort of your own four walls.
- The lifestyle of a digital nomad demands quite some logistical efforts & planning.
- Not living up to society’s expectations coincides with disapproval from some people closest to me which can be hurtful or cause conflict.
- Giving up my job, financial security and putting my career on hold did not come easy and demands sacrifices.
Challenges Faced & Lessons Learned
Living Out Of A Suitcase
Logistics & Planning
Financial Sacrifices
Uncertainty
Gratitude & Appreciation
Questions
Personal Reflections
- Grateful for my partner who is the most supportive, loving, consistent and I could ever ask for.
- Appreciative of my close circle of family & friends who have been incredibly encouraging and supportive of my choice to leave the corporate world, as well as always offering up their homes for me to stay with them for a little while.
- Thankful for the quality time I got to spend with my loved ones this year.
- Trusting my gut and following my inner voice has brought me so much happiness, joy and a full heart – one of the best years of my life.
Gratitude & Appreciation
My Partner
Supportive Friends
Spending Time with my Loved Ones
Happiness & Joy
Assessing Goals & Resolutions
Questions
Personal Reflections
Goals Reached
- My travel goals (5 new countries/ 5 new cities → Kenya, Tanzania, Denmark, Liechtenstein/ Nairobi, Nashville, San Francisco, Kopenhagen, Stone Town of Zanzibar,…)
- My reading challenge (at least 20 books → 32 books in 2023)
- Start a blog
Goals Not Reached
- Losing weight (5kg)
- New job (tbd)
- Write a book
Assessing Goals & Resolutions
Reading Challenge ✅
Travel Challenge ✅
Weight Goal ❌
Book Goal ❌
Tips for Effective Reflecting:
- Allocate dedicated time: Set aside uninterrupted time to reflect.
- Set the scene: Make yourself comfortable, light a candle and create a cozy atmosphere that allows your mind to wander.
- Be honest and introspective: Reflect without judgment to gain deeper insights.
- Write it down: Documenting thoughts helps in clarifying and remembering key points.
- Consider multiple perspectives: Reflect on different areas of your life. For example: Business, Family, Financials, Vitality/ Health, Love, Friends, Learning,…
- Seek feedback: Discuss your reflections with a mentor, friend, or colleague for additional insights.
As the years passed, my reflections became more accurate and often turned into reality. As a powerful tool for personal and professional development, self-reflection refines our focus and deepens our understanding of our values, priorities, and ambitions, allowing us to chart a path towards realizing our full potential. By introspecting and examining our experiences, we gain valuable insights that guide us towards our goals. Clarity in our aspirations increases the likelihood of them coming true, so I encourage you to take the time to self-reflect.
This post is supposed to help you focus on the previous year and reflect on the past. In the new year, there will be a post on goal setting for 2024 which will focus on how can you integrate your reflections into a plan for growth and success in the new year. Yet, I would still like to encourage you to approach the new year with positivity and purpose. If you feel like it, I would love to hear about your personal reflections in the comments. Launching this blog has been the highlight of 2023 and if you’re reading this, I’m incredibly grateful to have you on the journey. Stay tuned for further posts and thank you for reading.
Sincerely, The Blonde Yeti 
The Blonde Yeti 
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