Most people close out their year by feeling let down about goals they didn’t hit… or they just keep moving forward without acknowledging what happened and didn’t happen.
Neither creates compelling change for the coming year.
It’s okay to be disappointed when the year doesn’t meet your desired outcomes. When the Universe throws you a zinger, it’s okay to be frustrated.
Without the crappy stuff, we wouldn’t be inspired to raise the bar and become our next-level self.
When the shizzle hits the fan, it automatically creates a desire for something better… which moves us in a fresh direction.
When the good stuff happens, often people say, “That was good, I can coast for a while.” Then months and months go by without movement.
So, before you jump into planning for next year, I recommend doing a reckoning.
A reckoning is just acknowledging the truth about what’s working, what’s not, and what you’re not willing to drag into your future.
Ideally, it can be done without self-judgment. It’s a matter-of-fact inventory:
- This part sucked… and I’m not doing THAT again.
- This part was awesome… and I want more of that.
- This part needs an upgrade… and I’ll find a way to make it easy.
Then you can plan the next year from clean, powerful energy instead of wishful thinking or recycled limitations.
It’s about owning the reality of what shaped you… and using it as fuel to create a limitless next year.
Ready to be fired up?
Step 1: Name the Wins
Most years are filled with LOTS of wins. But most people only acknowledge the HUGE ones. Flashy wins rock, but what about all the things you let go of, the boundaries you backed up, or the progress you made?
Look at the wins you didn’t celebrate because you were too busy “handling life” or felt like they weren’t worth celebrating since you didn’t nail the massive target.
MOST of the time, you’re having more good moments than bad. The more you recognize them, the more you attract ‘em.
This is proof that you’re far more capable, powerful, and resilient than you let yourself remember.
Step 2: Name the Sucky Things
This is where most people go off the rails. They replay the hard stuff and turn it into a story about their limits.
The letdowns, the health issues, the missed targets… they don’t mean anything about you. They’re temporary circumstances.
But they do inform your next moves. Your job is to look at those moments and ask yourself:
- Was there something I could’ve stepped up, released, or shifted to avoid it?
(Again, not to beat yourself up, but to make better or faster choices next time.) - What clarity did this give me?
- What desire did this solidify for me?
Suddenly the “rough spots” become refining moments.
They didn’t take you down — they carved you into someone smarter, clearer, and more awake.
Step 3: Reveal the Truth You Ignored
Every year, there’s something we knew… and we acted like we didn’t.
Maybe it’s a desire you dumbed down. A boundary you didn’t hold. A pattern or habit you pretended was “fine.”
Ask yourself: What truth has my higher self been nudging me to finally honor?
Once you’ve named the wins, called out the sucky stuff, and told the truth you’ve been ignoring, pause. Let it all just be. It was what was and you get to be proud of who’ve you become as a result.
This is your line in the sand.
Anything that feels heavy or “not you anymore” gets to be released. No ceremony is needed but if you want to burn your list to release the energy of it, you can.
Anything that feels aligned or overdue for expansion gets to be brought into the new year.
Let the past year inform you, not limit you, and walk into your next chapter with clean energy. Ready to rock!