Releasing the end of the year

We’re kinda in a time of year I like to call the sacred pause. It’s a little like when you exhale and there’s that pause right before you inhale. That pause right there is where we are at right now. We are post Christmas festivities, but before the New Year begins.

The end of the year is a perfect time to pause and reflect on what has been. To acknowledge the year and all you experienced, good and bad. And to acknowledge yourself.

I’m going to guide you through this exercise to do towards the end of the year. It doesn’t have to be on a certain day. Just on a day where you feel is right for you to reflect on your year.

Here’s how you can do this yourself at home.

Create your sacred space

Take some time out of your day and sit in a quiet space on your own. You can light a candle, burn some sage or an incense stick if that feels right for you. Play some gentle music. Grab your journal if you have one, and reflect on the questions below.

Close your eyes and feel in to your heart space. Breathe in the questions. Allow the answers to come, and write what comes to mind. These questions are for you to reflect on your year and feel in to whatever comes up.

Acknowledge and reflect on your year

As you allow yourself to breathe and let go of the tension in your body, ponder these questions.

• What are some of the successes, wins and accomplishments you experienced this year? How did that make you feel?

  • These can be any kind of win, big or small, personal or at work or otherwise. Anything where you felt like you succeeded at something.

• What is something you did that you are proud of?

  • Somewhere where you may have stepped outside of your comfort zone or something that really pushed you, or a really big achievement. Or maybe, it was just getting through a really crappy year. Anything that comes to mind is valid.

• What new skills did you learn?

  • This can be in any area of your life, but techniques or skills that you expanded on.

• What are some of the disappointments or failures? How did they make you feel?

  • This can be an internal or external. Something that happened to you, or didn’t happen, or how you felt.

• What did you learn or accept about yourself this year?

  • I love this question! Try to be open minded on this one, and be really honest with yourself.

• Where have you grown this year?

  • There are so many different ways we can grow. It can be physical, emotional, mental, spiritual.

Little tip: If you’d like a quick recap of your year, go through the photos on your phone without getting too caught up on each image. See what pops out for you. Was there anything there that you forgot about?

Releasing your year

Now grab a piece of paper separate to your journal. Make a list of habits, patterns, limiting beliefs, attitudes, attachments, grievances or anything else from this year that you wish to release and leave behind.

Don’t be shy. Really let loose, get it all out and write it all down.

In a safe place, burn your piece of paper. You might want to make it ceremonial with incense or a candle burning. But the most important thing is that you burn your piece of paper with presence and with intention. You might want to say a few words, either in your head or aloud just before you burn it and as you are burning it. Something along the lines of “ I release all from this year that no longer serves me. I acknowledge the role you have played in my life but now it is time to let you go”.

Make these words your own and say something that really resonates with the intention of releasing it out of your body, out of your mind, out of your life.

Forgive yourself & others

I really believe that in order to truly release that we must also forgive ourself and the role we have played in our lives, as well as others.

Forgiveness is really about letting go in order to move on. When we forgive ourself and others, it mostly is for our own peace of mind so that WE can heal.

I heard a saying once “holding on to anger is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die”. Meaning that harbouring bitterness and anger i.e unforgiveness is ultimately hurting ourselves. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you condone the behaviour, but forgiving allows your heart to open, so that you can move on and live your life fully.

There’s different ways to forgive yourself and others, but today let’s focus on one method called the Ho’oponopono prayer which is a practise for healing relationships with self and others.

The four sentences of the Ho’oponopono prayer are:

“I’m sorry.

Please forgive me.

Thank you.

I love you.”

I like to use it like a mantra, briefly pausing after each line and allowing the words and the vibrations of the words to sink in. It’s a lovely practise to do sitting down in a quiet spot, eyes closed, placing hands on heart and bringing to mind either yourself or someone else you are working towards forgiving and repeating as long as it feels right for you.

It might take time to forgive yourself or another, so return to this as often as you wish. And remember, you are doing your best so give yourself some credit.

Celebrate you

This whole process might have moved some yukky stuff for you, so it’s important that you give yourself permission to honour yourself. I mean, really honour your wins and what you are most grateful for. Work out a way to celebrate you that aligns with you! Some sort of celebration for you from you. Too often, we get caught up in life and don’t really acknowledge how far we have come, so stop and make a conscious effort to celebrate yourself in a way that speaks to you.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog and that you have lovingly acknowledged and released this year. Stay tuned for the next post in this series in the New Year regarding intentions and bringing in the New year lovingly that aligns with you!

If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog, feel free to let me know in the comments below and share with a friend!