5 Ways to Say Goodbye to 2017

I was going to jump right in with a post all about goal-setting and resolutions for 2018 because I am a huuuuuuge believer in dreaming and making plans for the future. But then I stopped to think about how important it is for me to reflect on the past in order to really create goals for the future that are both inspiring and attainable. SO, here are 5 quick tips to implement before the year is done:

1. Create a space to reflect. 

It's easy to throw together a few thoughts when you're waiting in line or when you're just drifting to sleep, but more often than not, these stolen seconds of "reflection" aren't really going to be helpful or motivating in the long run. I suggest stealing more than a few seconds- even just 15 minutes- to cozy up with a journal (or your Notes app) and a cup of something warm- and really reflect.

2. Focus on what you overcame. 

I phrase it this way, because honestly, I wanted to initially phrase it with "think about all the bad stuff." But that's not really useful reflection unless you place it in the context of perseverance. I personally had a year full of doctor's appointments and "I don't know what you have's" mixed with my first year of teaching, which included some exceptionally challenging students. It's easy for me to list these things as "bad things that happened in 2017," but instead I am choosing to focus on these challenges as things I overcame.
Maybe you're still persevering in something really hard that won't be concluded neatly just because the year is coming to and end, but you can still choose to continue overcoming and fighting!

3.  Think about all the victories!

You did it! You made it through another year! Maybe you had some bumps- or mountains- along the way. But I am sure that some pretty great things happened throughout the year, and they shouldn't go unnoticed. Just like the Israelites struggled to remember how God had performed miracles to rescue them from slavery and to carry them through 40 years of desert living, it can be hard to remember all the miracles God has done this year. Make a point to remember them! Write them down! Do a victory dance! Say thank you to God!

4. Think about what you did wrong. 

Okay, so you made some mistakes this year. That's okay. But it's good to take a few minutes to think about and write down what you could work on. It's important to focus not so much on what happened TO you, but on how YOU acted. For me personally, I definitely complained too much this year (hence my last blog post). I was not very organized, which led to LARGE loads of laundry and unprepared days of teaching. I know what I did wrong, so now I can improve.

5. Think about what you did right. 

You made mistakes this year, but you more often than not, did some awesome things! This year, I finally FINALLY learned how to develop consistent Bible reading habits and even some exercise habits too! Celebrate those things and allow yourself to feel proud, and know that you can continue those same right things all the way into 2018 and beyond!

🎉✌🏻