Reflecting on what’s gone by - Year 2023 in Review

I’ve heard so many in my immediate circle say that the last few days of the year unbelievably just zoomed past us. Was it not Diwali we were just celebrating? Regardless, 2024 is here staring at our faces demanding attention. As we all prepare to tie up any remaining strings of 2023, let’s learn to reflect on what has gone by with gratitude and hope that the new year will be the year of our dreams.

As I was scrolling through Instagram one day where I read a quote that said, “Reflect... Look back and learn, so that the view looking forward is clearer.” That got me thinking of the number of times we let go of the past without learning our lessons from it. Every experience holds the ability to teach us important life lessons, but how many of us pay attention to it without getting blinded by our wants and desires? Every year-end, majority of us decide to make New Year resolutions. How many of us really acknowledge the year that's gone by and set realistic, attainable goals for the year?

For many of us, if not most of us, this year has been tough at times. Maybe for some of us, it has been the toughest year yet, and maybe some of us have felt this year was full of highlights. Either way, social media highlights are something any of us can fall prey to- friends getting married, engaged, promoted, having babies, going on trips, or it may be any other life highlight. Even if we have had a good year, these comparisons to what life could have been leave us thinking of our so-called “less than perfect” lives. Even though we are constantly told and understand that everyone’s social media life is a portrayal and sometimes even an exaggeration of their life really is, we fail to be kinder to ourselves.  

So, what do we do when we look at our lives in review? How do we be kinder to ourselves when we look back at our shortcomings? How do we maintain our humble nature when we look back at all those days when we knocked the ball out of the park?  

Best way of reflecting on 2023

Perhaps there's a better way of reflecting on 2023 than picking out the major events of the year, be it the good or bad experiences. Instead of celebrating achievements and cursing ourselves over failures, let’s start giving ourselves credit for the efforts we put in as well as acknowledging all the lessons we learnt through our numerous experiences. Reflect on how you felt during the tough times of life, times you felt you could not get through and applaud yourself for getting through 100% of them. Maybe you could not solve them all yet, but you sailed past them without giving up. Take credit for the times you were kind to others, for the times you made someone smile, feel loved and appreciated, and for all those times where you selflessly stood by people who needed you. There might be times where your inner self said, “I can't do this anymore”, but YOU DID! You got through times you thought you would not be able to. In reflection, appreciate your efforts, your resilience, your consistent will to grow in life, among many of your other positive qualities.  

As we reflect on 2023, Let’s not look back searching for greatness but let’s look back searching for HOPE. It can be the beacon that gives us courage and keeps us focused going forward in life.

As we look back, Let’s reflect on lessons we learned through the experiences we had.

• Embrace patience. Look back at all those times when your patience saved relationships and helped you learn new skills.  
• Foster connections.
• Be comfortable to move outside your comfort zone.
• Find the silver lining in all situations.
• Be mindful. Live in the here and now.
• Let go if things are not in your control.
• Celebrate efforts and not just victories.
• Limit social media interaction if the comparison bug is hard to fight.
• It’s ok to ask for help.

Life coach Shamillah Wilson was once asked what she believes the idea of a new year should all be about instead of the pressure it holds right now. She replied, “The most amazing thing about coming to the end of a year is to appreciate the joys, sorrows, and gifts the year had to offer. The practice of reflection accompanied by gratitude allows us to acknowledge how we have grown and changed. This sets the tone for a new intention for the new year.”

And rightly said, the way we see our experiences, is the exact way we will expect and respond to situations that we will face in the future. If we do not acknowledge our patience in tough times, we will only remember the hurt we felt. The memory of hurt is likely to make us anxious or even avoidant in nature. Thus, assessing a situation and giving yourself due credit is the key to bringing in something new this 2024.  

Where every year we make a resolution to change ourselves, this year let’s give ourselves a pat on the back and make a resolution to remain our true selves. Let’s choose ourselves over and over again this year, irrespective of how other individuals are placed in your life. This year let’s ourselves our priority. This year let’s celebrate our strengths and efforts.  

Conclusion:

We understand that all this is easier said than done. But do not worry, Transform Happily is always just a call away. We understand that this journey might be taxing but it sure does not have to be lonely.  

So, let’s thank 2023 for all that it has taught us and make 2024 a year of happy transformations...