Reflection with Intention
A Guide to Closing One Year and Opening the Next with Clarity and Purpose
By Sanaa Hyder
As the year draws to a close, many of us are looking for ways to reflect on the experiences, growth, and challenges we've encountered. Reflection is not just about looking back—it’s a powerful tool for setting intentions that shape our future. When we reflect with intention, we live in the possibility of what could be, seeing exciting invitations to our future everywhere.
This year, take some time to explore key questions that help illuminate both your past and the path ahead. These thoughtful prompts will guide you to a deeper understanding of yourself, and empower you to approach the coming year with renewed clarity and purpose.
What I Know Now That I Didn’t Know One Year Ago
It’s easy to forget how far we’ve come when we’re caught up in the day-to-day grind. Pause and reflect: What have you learned this year that was previously outside of your awareness? How has your perspective shifted? Understanding this growth can set the foundation for even deeper insights in the year to come.
Reflecting on Success
What went well this year? Take time to acknowledge your accomplishments, big and small. Celebrate the moments where you showed resilience, creativity, or love. What did you accomplish that you didn’t think was possible just 12 months ago? This type of recognition builds confidence and strengthens your sense of self-worth.
The Lessons I Want to Remember
Every year presents valuable lessons. What have you learned this past year that you want to carry forward with you? Perhaps it was a lesson about patience, trust, self-compassion, or perseverance. Identify 1 or 2 key lessons you’ll commit to recalling often in the year ahead. These could be reminders that help you stay grounded when challenges arise.
Challenges and Growth
What challenged you the most this year? What did you learn from these challenges? It’s through our struggles that we often find the most profound personal growth. Reflecting on these tough moments—and what they’ve taught you—helps you build resilience and a stronger sense of self.
Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to articulate your goals and intentions. What do you want to accomplish in the next 12 months? This year, be specific about your priorities—whether they relate to your career, family, health, or personal development. You don’t need to do everything at once; sometimes it’s okay to start something but not finish it within the year. What would be okay to start but not complete?
Take stock of what needs to be worked on first before it can be fully integrated into your life. Setting realistic and aligned goals ensures you're not setting yourself up for overwhelm.
How I Approach Mistakes and Self-Compassion
Mistakes are inevitable, but they also provide valuable lessons. When I make mistakes, I remind myself that it’s a part of my growth process. This year, I want to reflect on how I approached myself during times of imperfection. Did I show up with kindness and understanding?
This past year, towards myself, at my most elevated, I felt ________. Fill in this blank by thinking about your moments of greatest self-compassion, pride, or inner peace. What was your mindset, and how can you embody this in the year ahead?
Parenting and Teaching Through Modeling
As parents or mentors, we teach by example. Reflecting on the lessons you’ve modeled for your children or loved ones is key. What are the 3 most important things you endeavored to teach your kids this year? Now, think about how you want to model these same values in the coming year. Whether it's through actions, words, or behavior, intentional modeling speaks volumes.
Nourishing Every Area of My Life
Every area of your life—social, business, family, partnership, parenting, physical health—requires nourishment. Reflect on where you’ve invested care this past year. Where did you give and receive support? If you could make one sustainable change in each of these areas, what would it be?
Think of one “reach” goal in each area of your life that excites you but also feels challenging. What themes or patterns from last year would you like to continue sustaining in the new year?
Beginning of the Year: Making New Choices
What did you think or do last year that you’d like to pause and make different choices about this time around? Consider the thoughts, habits, or behaviors that no longer serve you. By making these conscious shifts, you create the space for new possibilities.
Additionally, what is bringing you joy right now, and how can you cultivate more of that moving forward? Reflect on the things that make you smile and light up your heart. Can you allow more of these moments to unfold in the next year?
End of the Year: Celebrating Priorities
It’s December 31st of next year. Looking back, what 1 or 2 things will you be glad that you prioritized? These reflections help solidify the importance of focusing on what truly matters and helps you decide where to pour your energy.
Daily Reflection
Small, consistent reflections each day can help keep you on track with your larger goals. Ask yourself:
What is already going well for me today?
What are the top 1, 2, or 3 goals to accomplish today?
What can I start today but not necessarily finish today?
Every day offers a fresh opportunity for progress. These daily reflections also open the door to a deeper sense of gratitude and mindfulness.
A Year of Living with Intention
When you reflect with intention, you embrace the possibility of what could be. It’s not just about what you’ve already achieved, but also about where you are going. This approach invites you to step into your highest potential, while acknowledging where you’ve been and what you’ve learned along the way.
Whether you’re looking back or moving forward, take the time to pause, reflect, and set your course. This process of reflection, grounded in intention, will not only guide your actions but will also help you step into your future with confidence, purpose, and clarity.