My End of Year Ritual: Let Go and Create Space for What’s Next

I was sitting in a meditation this week I was reflecting on the challenging year I have had, and I still couldn’t believe it was only a few weeks away from the new year!

It was clear to me I had allowed weeks with work, daily routines, goals, and well… everyday life to speed past quicker than I would have liked and this is not the energy I wanted to be bringing into 2019.

I instead want to honour the year that has been, and intentionally open up space for what I want to bring in next. So this year I am going to bid this year goodbye with a ritual, so I can energetically, mindfully, and intentionally let go of the remnants of 2018 PLUS really allow myself to celebrate my wins this year (big and small!).

Because really, how many of us sit down and reflect on what we have achieved, how we have grown and what we have experienced?

So if you are feeling like you need to say goodbye to this year with reflection, a ritual and ceremony, to really honour the YOU, you have become and create space for the year ahead, I have created this blog just for that!

Feel free to alter it as you please, and share with others who you think would love to do the same.

1. Create a sacred space

Carve out some time where you won’t be interrupted. Light a candle, burn some incense, essential oils, white sage, or palo Santo to clear the space. Put some light relaxing music on, and get comfortable. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to connect into your heart space and become present to this reflective process. Have a journal close by so you can answer the following questions.

2. Reflect on your year

What are your disappointments, failures, and breakdowns this year?

What are your successes, wins and accomplishments (big and small)?

What did you absolutely love this year that happened?

Acknowledge your personal growth

Where did you courageously step outside of your comfort zone?

What are you most proud of?

What new insights, skills or wisdom have you gained?

What did you learn/accept/heal/transform about yourself this year?

What do you want to leave behind and release?

Make a list of habits, limiting beliefs, attitudes, patterns, attachments, or grievances you wish to leave behind.

I like to write these down on a piece of paper and then burn the paper to shift and transform my mind and energy. I do this with the intention to let go of old patterns and habits, and invite new ways of being for the new year (by visualising how I want to show up). This process is incredibly powerful! Give it a go.

Then Ask yourself what else do you need to do for yourself in order to release and heal these?

Forgive and move on

What do you want to forgive yourself for?

What and who else can you forgive?

Ho’pono’pono is a beautiful Hawaiian practice and prayer to reconcile and forgive yourself and others. This exercise releases yourself from the hold of anger, bitterness, and resentment, freeing you to move on with your life.

It goes like this:
I’m sorry
Please forgive me
I love you
Thank you

Visit this link to read more about this powerful, simple practice.

Give yourself permission to celebrate!

As ambitious, high-achieving women, it can be very easy to move onto the next goal without celebrating! So in this very moment, give yourself permission to celebrate all of your wins this year and what you are most grateful for.

Then ask yourself “how will I celebrate and honour my year’s accomplishments?”

Consciously reward yourself beautiful, you deserve it!

3. Connect with what you want to bring in for the New Year

Now that you’ve celebrated the year that has been, forgiven and let go of what you no longer want to bring in with you to 2019. You have now created the space to connect with what it is you want to bring in for the New Year.

Here are some creative ways to do just that.

Create a vision board

This is the perfect time to create a vision board and start to envision what the year ahead looks like for you. What you want to be, do or have more in your life. This exercise helps you to invest the time and energy to visualise your future and a constant reminder of your life goals.

Click here to Learn How to Create a Vision Board in 5 Easy Steps.

Go for a mantra instead of a resolution

Unlike a resolution, which is stated once at the beginning of the year, a mantra is repeated every day as a way to reinforce and reflect on this new intention.

To identify a mantra you want to live by for the new year, think about how you want to feel, how you want to be, and how you want to show up moving forward.

Here are some examples:

I will be grateful everyday.

I will practice forgiveness, starting with myself.

Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

I choose to love and honour myself.

I trust my intuition and inner voice.

I go with the flow and create inner peace.

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There you have it! I hope this process has been an enlightening one for you and has helped you to celebrate the year of YOU. Thank you so much for being such a beautiful supportive community over the last year – its been absolutely amazing to have connected with so many of you in clinic, on social media, and over Skype and I am truly grateful and excited to move into the new year with you!

What are your New Year’s intentions, mantras and end of year rituals? I would love to hear them! Share with me below.