Clarity in the Rearview Mirror

Hindsight is always 20/20. I know where I have been and in looking back, I find the clarity that I may have missed at the moment. Think of this as creating a highlight real for the past year. With all the photo apps, this is the easiest thing to do now, but I want to take it a step further. I want to discover how the events led me to gain clarity for where I want to go in the new year and the changes I wish to make. Here is an exercise for gaining clarity.

Do you often find yourself in December wondering where the year went? Have you wondered what you accomplished or feel like you didn’t get enough finished? Instead of adding something else to your holiday or end of year to-do list, this tradition only requires a quiet and reflective mind.

Grab a cup of tea, cocoa or your preferred drink and settle in for a quick read. I told you it would be easy. You will need a notebook or journal, a pencil or pen, and your phone for photos. Take a few sips of your drink, inhale, exhale and relax. Do deep gentle breathing for a few minutes and let your mind be still. Once you feel yourself in the present moment begin the stroll down memory lane. We are looking at only the past twelve months.

I am a visual person like most artists are, so I begin by breaking the year into months. I like to begin at the beginning of the year, but if it is easier for you to begin in December and work your way back, that is ok as well. On a page of your journal write the month and then answer these questions in your notebook.

1. For each month write where you were. Did you travel, go to work or work from home?

2. Who were you with? You don’t need to think about every day, you are just going for the highlights.

3. What did you create?

4. Did you have art events?

5. What did you learn that seemed important?

6. What changed your life?

7. What would you let go of?

8. What other events were memorable in this month.

This is the part where scrolling through my photos helps me fill in the blanks. My photo gallery becomes a visual diary of travels, art, celebrations, family, friends, nature and my day’s events. I love the gallery scroll because it is time based so I can go back to the beginning of the year and relive the photo reel. Like most of us, the photos are going to be your highlight reels. What did you care enough about to photograph.

The pictures will also spur your memory on things that weren’t photographed. Perhaps you had a major move or health event, a job or relationship change. The point is not to recall

every moment of the day but to really get a sense of how much you did over the course of the past twelve months. You may also realize how much you were able to create. This is a good time to update your bio and CV as well.

You may notice that you spent a lot of time doing what you love, or you didn’t. How might you shift the time going into the next year? Even a few days a year can make a difference in your creative journey. The review is not to be critical, simply to see how much you have really done over the last year. I am usually amazed at how much I got done.

You will surprise yourself with this process because you see how much has happened over the course of a year. We all have our own path, and your journey will be unique. If you are doing this for the first time, reflect on how you feel about the past year and how you want to move into the next. Would you paint more, write more, visit with friends and family, vacation, relax, garden, sing, dance? What could you let go of to create more space for the joy you want to add to your life? I let go of fear, judgement, worry, self-doubt, second guessing, and the things that I waste my energy on.

Here is my last tip. When I find myself getting caught up in mindless energy wasting activities or mindsets; imagine pulling the plug and recovering your energy. No more time spent on thoughts that don’t support you. Unplug from the socket that is draining your life force. You can control where you invest your creative energy. Now reward yourself with a song and a dance, or maybe a nap!

Happy holidays and much love to you all.