Time to Reflect
Happiness shared is happiness doubled (Swedish Proverb)
Once the end of year busyness has settled, the holiday period is a great time to rest, relax and reflect. The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘reflect’ as ‘to think carefully, especially about possibilities and opinions.’ When I contemplate reflection, my mind turns to the metaphor of a mirror. Considering the year that has been and the year ahead is like standing back (as we do with a mirror) and viewing the reflection. It is also like receiving feedback.
It is time to reflect on 2025 and the coming year with your internal mirror!
You might consider the good things from 2025? What positive events or ‘glimmers’ happened, no matter how small. What led to you feeling content even for a short while? What compliments did you receive? How did you get through the challenges? What strengths and strategies did you use? Did you grow your resilience?
Here are 7 other ideas for reflection:
- Consider how you are going with looking after your wellbeing – physically, emotionally, socially, work and finance wise or spiritually. Maybe some of your self-care strategies have fallen by the wayside and could be picked up again over the holidays or in 2026!
- Can you do more of the things in life that you value, and drop some of the less valued activities? Each year I reflect on the work and other activities that I have picked up during the year, the time and effort involved and decide whether to keep them going in the following year – based on their value and importance to me.
- Are you focussing a lot on the past or future? Or on various screens and social media platforms? What about the present moment? Is it important to invest more energy into ‘now’? Mindfulness is great for our mind and body, so it is well worth investing in, even for short periods. You can be mindful in your everyday activities or in meditation.
- Why not reflect on happiness too! Have you doing some things that are fun and playful or that bring you happiness. Examples include being present with children, having a laugh with someone or playing with a pet. What else can you do that sparks some joy over the holiday period and into 2026? And remember, just like the Swedish proverb says, happiness shared is happiness doubled!
- How connected do you feel to others, whether family, friends, neighbours or colleagues? We are social creatures and having some support can be helpful in many ways, including decreasing stress. Being kind to others brings them benefits and feels very good. What might be needed in your life in this area?
- Are you being kind to yourself in your thoughts? We all need to pull ourselves up some of the time. But a lot of the time we need to be less self-critical. Recognising that you are human and treating yourself like a friend or loved one is being self-compassionate. [If you are looking for a holiday read, check out Kristen Neff’s books on self-compassion.]
- Finally, reflect on what you want for yourself or your loved ones in 2026? Does this involve some change, or maybe not? Does it involve working out a goal and taking small steps to achieve it. Each day you might consider one small action that can help you move towards your goal. If you aim to be less self-critical, be more aware of your self-critical thoughts, maybe journal some of them each day. Or if you want to feel fitter, start moving a little more each day. [I can also recommend ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear, another good holiday read.]
Okay, I think that is it for now. I hope that you enjoy the remainder of December, Christmas and New Year, and I wish you all the best in 2026!
Take care.
