End of Year Reflections: Looking Back With Compassion
I say this every year, but I can’t believe another year is coming to an end! Every year holds so much, and yet time feels both fast and blurry. Time can feel strange—the last few months of the year feel clear, but the beginning of the year feels like a blur. I’ve noticed this sentiment is felt by many of my clients.
How Negativity Bias Can Impact How We Reflect
Recently, I had a session with a client who had been going through a particularly difficult season. When I asked him to reflect on his year, he could only remember the difficulties, the setbacks, the stress, and the moments that felt out of his control. His mind, like all of ours when we’re overwhelmed, focused on the pain.
What many don’t realize is that our brains are wired for negativity bias. When we’re stressed, depressed, or going through a hardship, our memory tends to be more selective, holding onto what feels like threats and discarding anything that felt neutral or positive at the time.
So instead of simply asking him to reflect on the year, we went month by month, revisiting the year in a grounded, gentle way. We went through photos, calendar events, notes, texts, emails, and conversations. Utilizing these tools for little reminders of a life that was still happening, even in the midst of hardship. And through this exercise, my client remembered:
Not just what went wrong, but what went right.
Not just the hard moments, but the meaningful ones.
Not just the stress, but the strength.
This process reminded both of us of something important that negativity bias impacts how we remember the year and makes us forget about our accomplishments, joys, and progress.
A New Kind of Year-End Reflection
Before the year ends, I encourage you to try a different type of reflection—one that isn’t about judging your productivity or measuring your worth.
Instead, try reflecting through the lens of compassion:
What surprised you?
What softened you?
What challenged you in a way that helped you grow?
What did you learn about your needs, your capacity, and your relationships?
What did you let go of?
What did you carry with you that you’re finally ready to set down?
And if it’s helpful, go month by month. Let your photos, texts, and memories remind you of the moments you didn’t realize mattered at the time.
A Gentle Reminder
Let this reflection be a gentle reminder that your story is bigger than any one month, any one challenge, or any one season of your life. If you or someone you know is feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move into the new year with clarity and steadiness, I’m here to support you.
Sometimes the hardest part is sorting through the year on your own.
If you’re ready to enter the new year with more grounding, insight, and emotional balance, schedule a consultation with me through this link.