You can look at Winter Solstice as the beginning process of closing out the year and preparing for the next. Between the Solstice and New Year's Eve is a perfect opportunity to go within (hibernate) and take stock of the past year.
Make a list of all the high points of the past year -- special moments, events, realizations, accomplishments, changes, new relationship. I usually do this right before I write my holiday letter to my friends. Not only do I have content to share, but it also gives me a chance to reflect on what transpired over the year in a somewhat objective point of view.
The bonus is that it always helps me get a perspective on where my life has been heading and in observing the transitions throughout the year, can find so much to be thankful for as well as helping me to get a clearer view of the big picture so I can make adjustments, updates, take new directions to move closer to where I want to be in my life going forward.
There have been times when I thought not much happened over the year or it was not so great, but when I started going through my appointment calendar and journal entries month by month, to my surprise, I discovered just how much I have to be grateful for.
It's worth taking the time to honor your life and the successes you've had over the year. That way, it makes things clearer as to what direction you want to take going into the New Year.
Which leads me to the tradition of New Year's Resolutions.
More often than not, we set them out of "I should do what's good for me" list. This makes them difficult to keep because they are based on 'shoulds' -- should give up, should start doing and not on what you actually would welcome into your life.
That's why I prefer to create 2/two lists on New Year's Eve as part of my New Year Ritual.
One list is saying goodbye to all the things I don't want to continue into the next year.
The second lists all the things I want to have in my life.
From there I create Intentions/Goals* to work on using the methods I teach in the Dare To Be Creative Workshop. By the time January 1st is here, there is a sense of purpose and direction that motivates me to move forward toward manifesting them.
And of course, don't forget to save space for magic and miracles.
*Paper Architect has created an INTENTION BOOKLET, available for sale on our online marketplace:
