The end of the year is nearing, and with it, comes a busy season of holiday events, shopping, and travel. While your gears turn endlessly, carve out space to slow down, stop, and rest. Open your gently-used journal and reflect inward on the year prior. 

1. What went well this year?

Start with the good. Anything wonderful happen? What are you happy about or most proud of? It doesn’t have to only be accomplishing a goal, just something that made you smile and beam with pride. Something as simple as you reconnecting with a friend or earning all A’s at school. 

2. What didn’t go well this year?

Take this next prompt to focus on what didn’t go well. As you reflect on why something didn’t go the way you planned, think about how you can do better and what you would’ve done differently. How did you react to that surprise? Looking back, would you have reacted differently? 

3. What relationships have changed this year?

Think about how your relationships made an impact on you. Did any relationships change? Did you step into any new relationships? As you wrap up the year, how can you express gratitude for your loved ones?  

4. Anything that you weren’t able to accomplish?

Look at your goals and dreams that you made at the beginning of the year. Anything that you didn’t get to? What will you do differently in the new year? 

5. If you could go back to your January self, what advice would you give them?

Imagine your previous January self meeting your current December self. How would that interaction go? What advice would you give yourself at the beginning of the year if you could do it all over again?  

6. What did I pray for most often?

Did past prayers go unanswered? What prayers did God answer? Reflect on the answered prayers and whether God answered them the way you expected Him to.