Every December, I notice a subtle but real emotional shift in the people I sit with—and in myself. Even if life is busy, something underneath begins to pause and take stock. We start to look back. Sometimes with pride, sometimes with grief, sometimes with a sense of “How did this year slip away from me?”

If you’ve felt a mix of emotions as the year winds to a close, you’re not alone. Reflection is part of being human—our psyche naturally wants to make meaning out of what we’ve lived through. But meaning-making isn’t always comfortable. It can stir old wounds, highlight unmet hopes, or bring forward emotions we didn’t have time to feel.

This is why I like to think of December not as a time to judge yourself, but as a time to tend to yourself—to look back not with criticism, but with curiosity and compassion. You are allowed to be exactly where you are. Reflection is not about fixing yourself—it’s about understanding yourself. The end of the year often awakens deeper layers: old patterns resurfacing, familiar emotional themes repeating, or inner voices that sound suspiciously like figures from our past. At the same time, there’s value in acknowledging that you are more than your productivity or your roles. This month can reconnect you to meaning, inner wisdom, and direction—without veering into the overly mystical. It’s simply a chance to explore yourself with honesty and gentleness while still keeping your feet firmly on the ground.

Journaling Prompts for “The Year That Was”

Choose one prompt or work through all of them over the next couple of weeks.

1. What surprised me about this year—emotionally, relationally, or personally?

Surprises often show us where we’ve grown or where something inside us is trying to shift.

2. What (or who) required more emotional energy than I expected?

This can reveal boundaries that need strengthening or relationships that may need redefining.

3. What moments made me feel most like myself?

Look for patterns—these often point to values that want more space in your life.

4. What pain or disappointment do I need to acknowledge so it doesn’t come with me into next year?

Allow yourself to name it. Naming is an act of release.

5. What am I quietly proud of, even if no one else knows?

Let yourself own the small victories; they matter.

Three Fresh, Well-Reviewed Books for End-of-Year Reflection

Here are newer or recently popular books that speak to themes of meaning, inner shifts, and personal renewal:

1. The Way Through the Woods: On Mushrooms and Mourning by Long Litt Woon

A memoir about grief, rediscovery, and the small, unexpected things that bring us back to ourselves.

2. Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

A beautiful book about cycles of slowing down, rebuilding, and honoring seasons of your life.

3. Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain

Addresses the emotional complexity of longing and loss—and how these emotions deepen meaning, connection, and resilience.

Closing Thoughts

Reflection isn’t about evaluating whether you “did enough” this year. It’s about seeing yourself clearly, without the distortion of self-criticism or comparison.

If you approach the end of the year gently—even imperfectly—you might find something surprising:
You are growing, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
You are healing, even if it’s slow.
And you are allowed to enter the next chapter with hope, softness, and self-trust.

Sincerely,

Mary