Carrie Baker – The Growth Collective

Do you want to finish your year well? Do you want to end it with gratitude, and walk into a new one with hope?

In the next couple of days, as I have done, make some time to sit with your year, however it was for you, before letting it go.

As you wrap up another orbit around the sun, it is so good to take a look back over your shoulder and acknowledge all that has happened. Maybe your year was really tough, with many difficulties, loss, disappointments, struggles and obstacles to tackle. Maybe your year was a positive one, and you enjoyed it.

Whatever your experience of it, giving yourself closure for all that has happened, will help you to put the past year behind you, and focus your attention forwards, ready to begin anew.

Questions and conversations.

If you and I were sitting in a cafe together right now, I would ask you so many questions about your year. I would love to know all that you have been though, all the highs and lows.

I’d ask you the things that made you proud and the things that made you weep. I’d ask you; ‘What was the biggest headline in your year?’, because I’d love to celebrate it with you.

If you are in the habit of keeping a journal (and especially if you’re not, now is as good a time as any to start! I wrote about it here and here), sit somewhere quietly for a little while with a notebook and a pen.

Journaling has so many incredible benefits, go and read the posts mentioned above if you want to know more. But journaling is like opening a conversation with yourself, and asking yourself good questions, and can be like unlocking those unknown areas of deepest self.

Take yourself on a date.

As you take time in the next few days, let your pen do the talking as you let the year wash over you, and out of you into words on paper. Take yourself out on your own if you can. It doesn’t have to be a cafe, but somewhere you love to be, where you can be alone with your thoughts and your journal.

The other day, I went and sat in cafe with my husband, a coffee, some cake, my journal and pen at the ready. Together we (mostly) silently took time to honour all that has passed this year.

Be intentional.

I wrote about all the great things, and I didn’t shy away from the terrible moments, and I allowed my pen to capture the joyful moments I was blessed with. I had a previous journal I was able to read over and could proudly see the goals I had achieved.

I felt it was important for me to remember the passing year, honestly and in all its raw beauty, because the time I’ve been given is a precious gift. I also do it, because all that I have been through, has grown me and shaped the person I am today.

I took time to write down all that I am thankful to God for, all the ways I have seen His goodness in my life, the ways He has provided, and for all that He has done in me and through me.

I remembered the hard times, and felt grateful that I got through them. I celebrated the ways I grew and the difficulties I overcame. I felt proud of the successes and achievements, and remembered all that it took me to get there.

All this will be the fuel that will carry me into a new season.

Powerful reflection.

What about you? Will you join me as we farewell the year that has ended and welcome in the one to come? Your journal is a great place to do this…

If you are new to this journaling thing, or even if you’re not, here are some questions to help prompt you, and give you a starting point:

1. The hard seasons I went through this year are….

2. The lessons life taught me this year are…

3. The things I overcame are…

4. My successes for this year are..

5. I am grateful to the past year for…

6. In the year ahead, I am looking forward to…

7. In the New Year I want to…

8. My prayer for the New Year is…

Friend, I encourage you to be intentional as you head into a new year. I’m not talking about New Years Resolutions, I am speaking about those things in your heart, the goals or dreams waiting to be chased. (Unless New Years Resolutions are totally your thing, knock yourself out!)

By knowing what you want your next year to look like or feel like, you can decide on the direction it will take, even if it changes as you go. I spent too many years just letting life happen. But when I began being intentional, things started changing.

To help you in your endeavours for the New Year, and your personal growth, I have created a mini course! It is for everyone who has a goal they are hoping to achieve or a dream they want to chase, it follows ‘7 Steps’ to help you to get started. I will walk the journey with you, as your friend in your inbox!

You will receive each of the steps, emailed to you with encouragement from me, a pep talk when you need it and the ability to work through it at your own pace.

This course will be live from January 5th 2023, and FREE for the rest of January , as my gift to you to celebrate my birthday month!

One more thing I do, is to pray.

I like to pray over my year to come, and I find it so energising and powerful. Can I pray for you?

Lord, I pray for this friend as they end a year and begin a new one. I ask you would give them peace as they look ahead. I ask that you would give them strength when theirs fails, give them wisdom when they need it, and courage to step into new things. Lord, please help them to be brave enough to be their authentic self, the wondrous and beautiful creation they are. Help them to recognise those passions, gifts and talents they’ve been given, those dreams to bless the world with. Protect them, bless them, give them joy, and may they see your goodness this year. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you pray, you can ask God for the things you need in the year to come, tell Him your hopes and the longings of your heart. Ask Him for those things you want to accomplish in the next season. Invite Him into your plans, and to lead you in all that He has for you.

If prayer isn’t your thing, speak with hope about the year to come.

Set your intentions, make your plans, let the motivations of your heart be honourable, and step into this next year with great expectations for all the good things it will bring.

There is so much ahead for you, friend.

Go into this new year with hope. Let joy into your life, and embrace all that this next season holds.

I am here, to champion your personal growth, encourage you, and cheer you on as you reach for your dreams, or set new goals. I want to help you become the best version of you, that you can be, starting with looking to the new year.

You can find all the places I hang out here, come and check out all the other things I do!

Sending you love friend,

Carrie xxx

Photo Credit :: Carlos /Unsplash/ WordSwag