Seeking Harmony Through the Year End: Prioritizing Care and Renewal

As the year comes to a close, we can find ourselves amidst conflicting feelings and priorities. It can be a time that embodies both warmth and loneliness, joy and difficulty. For some, it's a season of gathering, spreading cheer, and basking in the warmth of shared moments. And, for others, it can be filled with feelings of isolation, challenging relationships, and stress. And for many, it's a blend of both. Add to that the constant stream of messages encouraging mindless consumerism, invitations for overindulgence, and the pull between competing commitments, it can be a challenging time to offer ourselves rest, resolve, and care.

The shorter days and longer nights in the northern hemisphere naturally invite us to turn inward, to reflect, and to renew; yet, our societal norms tell us to embrace the buzz and busy-ness of the season. I think there can be room for both if we are intentional with our attention, time, and energy.

Throughout this season, I invite us all to evaluate what serves our truest most authentic selves best right now in our present lives and to prioritize more of what serves us. I invite us to create meaningful moments and interactions over just filling our time because the opportunity is there. There is always room for flexibility, and we don’t necessarily have to draw hard lines in the sand, but we do need to draw some lines and gives ourselves some bounds. This is where reflection can serve us. When we spend the time and energy to ask ourselves, “What will serve me best today, this week, this month?” and give ourselves time to reflect, we gain clarity on where to draw those boundaries and discern how to navigate this season in a way that nurtures our well-being.

Some guiding questions I like to ask myself during this time of year include

“What might it look, sound, and feel like to meet the new year feeling rejuvenated and refreshed rather than depleted and overindulged?” and

“What might be possible if I focus on giving myself great care throughout this time of year?”

Reflecting on these questions allows me to make better choices for myself so that I am better resourced throughout this time of year, which in turn, continues to allow me to make better decisions for myself and my well-being in the following moments.

I am curious to hear from you. What does giving yourself great care this time of year make possible for you? You can share your reflections here in the comments and/or here and/or here. Throughout the remainder of the year, let’s create space for meaningful moments and great care throughout, and meet the new year feeling well and resourced.