As we get ready to close the books on another momentous chapter, have you begun to look back over 2024 to reflect on what happened? The good, bad and ugly. This was a year for the record books with lots of drama and angst, as well as some beautiful moments (even if we need to dig to remember them). What memories surface for you as you consider what has passed?

Do you typically remember the wonderful stuff, like travel adventures, being with friends and family or doing things you really enjoyed? Or do you think of what went wrong, the missed opportunities and other disappointments? All the stuff that blew up (in addition to the many wars, hurricanes and shootings, sadly almost too many to recall). Do you consider what could have, should have, would have been, if only?

Hopefully you take a balanced view, but often we see the glass half empty view. This year, consider looking at all your past experiences in totality – to see it all. Evaluate what really happened, to find the lessons. No matter your experience, there were likely meaningful events that you learned from and can apply going forward.

How to Reflect on What Happened?

Here are some questions for you to ponder in looking back on this past year.

• What experiences did you value?
• Where did you struggle?
• Which challenges caused you to stretch yourself and grow?
• What do you want to remember that was important?
• Which experiences, objects, people or things are you ready to leave behind?

For that last one, and any of the more challenging areas, consider creating a personal ritual to memorialize, commemorate whatever you are ready to ACKNOWLEDGE, RELEASE and BRING FORWARD.

The idea is to be intentional about your choices. Too often, so many of us carry around stuff that weighs us down without even realizing the psychic space it takes up. As we enter this winter season of hibernation and going within, how might we lighten our burden of what we no longer wish to hold onto.

One approach is to write down what you are ready to let go of. Then choose a release method. You can burn your paper (fire acts fast), or tear it into shreds and release into the air (for this, write on leaves), or bury it (earth can ground and unwind slowly or plant seeds for future growth).

Create your own approach and know that rituals are an important part of most religious and spiritual practices. They can be deeply symbolic and create change. Thoughtful practices are an important part of most key milestones or coming of age ceremonies, like cutting a ribbon for an event opening, ringing the bell of a stock exchange, throwing stones on a grave or tossing salt over one’s shoulder. These are are some examples of new and ancient practices that evolved to acknowledge and deal with and make meaning of events, both the important and the mundane.

WHY WE CELEBRATE

We celebrate to take a pause and acknowledge changes so they can be formally recognized, otherwise in our rush to move forward, get ahead and progress, we blow past things that are quite significant and inadvertently diminish their importance. This can leave us with a feeling of disconnection – like a missed opportunity – because we lacked closure on the ending of one thing and the beginning of something new.

Recently I felt the significance of a client completing our work together. For our last call, I played Celebration, such a classic song, to acknowledge all the changes she had been through and to mark the milestone.

She originally came to me in anticipation of a professional change before a consulting contract would end. She wanted to give herself time to figure out what would be next, but wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted. She knew she wasn’t happy and was ready for something new, but she didn’t know where to focus or how to make a transition.

This is not uncommon, to feel uncomfortable and uncertain, yet also longing for change. Most importantly, she realized that it was time. She was ready to commit to making changes she had been putting off for a while. She decided that having a young child at home would no longer be an excuse or deter her from pursuing her path. It actually became part of her inspiration for wanting to do things differently.

What did she accomplish? Through our work, she uncovered and changed unhelpful beliefs and behaviors that were limiting her growth and leadership. She stopped putting others needs ahead of her own and made her goals a priority, shifting out of scarcity and into abundance.

Within a few months, she manifested an exciting new job, receiving an amazing offer to do meaningful work where she can make a positive impact and earn more. At the same time, she was recruited for another higher paying more senior role that required extensive travel. She chose to pass on that opportunity since the culture did not align with her values and the role wouldn’t move her forward where she’s chosen to direct her future professional growth.

She set boundaries with her old employer and colleagues to finish her projects without overworking or burning herself out. Most importantly, she had healed and resolved longstanding family issues, releasing grief and resentment. She stopped being at the mercy of her emotions and old stories about how she needed to act.

In short, she freed herself from the past and fully empowered to step into a dynamic new future based on intentional choices. Her clear priorities and confidence will allow her to manage whatever the future might bring. These amazing accomplishments were worth celebrating!

You Got This!

This is what I want for all my clients – to grab the reins of their life and direct their future towards what they wish to create. It’s so wonderful for me to watch and witness, and to acknowledge all the growth, learning and opportunities that become possible when someone knows who they are and is living their purpose.

In the new year, I’ll be sharing more about how my Authentic Alchemy Path framework can support your deep transformation on an inner, outer and interpersonal level by creating alignment between your personal growth and professional fulfillment. My vision is to support as many conscious leaders as possible to step into incredible growth, change and healing.

More to follow with the launch my book, So, What Do You Do? The Authentic Alchemy Path to Find Who You Are, in March, so stay tuned. I’m planning to offer presentations, free giveaways and live and virtual launch events. I’m excited to share and celebrate the culmination of all my work over this past year.

So what are you longing to create in the coming year? I’d love to hear!

Feel free to find a time to connect if you wish to explore moving in a new more aligned direction in 2025. I would love to support you in reaching your goals for growth, purpose and impact.

To celebrating you and all your accomplishments!

Lenore