looking back

Enjoy this yearly re-post!

looking back

As we come to the end of the year, it’s natural to reflect on the year that has gone by, as well as to look forward to the new year ahead. This is a time for “kind sight” once again.

Below are two journalling exercises to explore, now that the rush of the Holidays is over. I like to think of this as a Middle Ground Pause. A time for being present, reflecting and allowing your inner wisdom to inspire you for whatever comes next.

Take a few moments to let yourself get settled and comfortable. Start by reflecting with “kind sight”on the past year. “Kind sight” means being kind to yourself, instead of being critical or judging. With “kind sight” we are able to see mistakes as lessons, and life’s challenges as times of resiliency and personal growth. 

Ask yourself the following questions and write down your answers:

Looking back on 2022…

  • What was a highlight?
  • What was a lowlight?
  • What was a surprise?
  • What do I feel proud of?
  • What do I feel grateful for?
  • What did I learn (or am still learning) from either the highlights or lowlights?

    Some people do a month by month reflection, while others evaluate important areas in their lives. (For example – career, family, health, hobbies, learning, contribution, spirituality, travel, environment, self-care, personal growth)

Once you’ve reflected on 2022, write a Future Gratitude Letter:

letter to myself

This is a letter to yourself written a year in advance, describing all the things that you are grateful for during the year. Start with the date December 31 2019 and address it to yourself.
Include who you’ve become and what you now have or are moving towards.  Be careful not to include anything that feels like a “have to” goal or something that you “should” achieve.

This is a letter of “kind sight” for the year ahead. The key is in the energy.  If your energy feels uplifted when you think about the things you’re grateful for in a year’s time, then you are tapping into your own passion and inner wisdom.
This can be a revealing and inspiring process, letting the creative juices and intention begin it’s journey.

With love and Gratitude

Val

79 comments on “This is a Time for Kind Sight

  1. Thank you Tree. It was the same for me … see https://findyourmiddleground.com/2014/04/25/journaling-or-journalling/
    There is magic within us when we let it be seen and heard 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Great post Val, as I will return to, when I have a fresh mind, too tired now. Thanks for your kind encouragement and great idea 😀

    Liked by 4 people

  3. We really don’t do enough of this. We may think about your 6 questions/points, but don’t write or verbalize the answers. It should be a daily/monthly/yearly habit of your choice. 🙂

    (Do you think a monthly email to myself might work? 😉 )

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Thank you for offering this “middle ground pause” Val! I actually spent some time reflecting back…and forward. A very enlightening exercise 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  5. Great post, Val. Reflecting on the days past can help us to look forward and appreciate the days ahead.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Love this, Val. It is a wonderful idea! ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  7. We go through the notes in our Gratitude Basket to make room for the coming year.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. At the beach, my sister and I discussed this and it is amazing what we discovered when we self reflected on the year. Gratitude for what is to come is so powerful. Great idea Val 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  9. Valuable exercise. I do have trouble looking back. Forward, forward is the pull.

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Carol Ferenc

    Last year, when I was ill, I quit writing the journal I’d been keeping and never got back to it. I love your “kind sight” concept, Val, and it’s just what I need to start again. Thank you!

    Liked by 3 people

  11. Great advice, Val. Thank you for your inspiration.

    Liked by 3 people

  12. Pingback: * Haiku – year end transition | Find Your Middle Ground

  13. Good suggestions, Val! I do try to look forward and backward at this time of year. Sadly, I don’t always set those goals and reflect as suggested but I do try. Staying positive is always the best middle ground. Cheers to past, present and future!

    Liked by 3 people

  14. this is a wonderful exercise and I shall do it!
    I like the idea of “kind-sight”

    Liked by 3 people

  15. Great post, kindness is the future! The exercises are a fine idea too.

    Happy New Year Val!

    – esme waving upon the Cloud

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Wow! Beautiful idea: kind sight. Thank you so much. I just closed my eyes and used your questions to review my past year (which I hadn’t done yet because it had ended with a bad break up) and was met with some lovely surprises that moved me to tears – mostly thoughts about my wonderful teenage son who I’m so very proud of and grateful for. And as well…my own courage and resiliency because while the year ended sadly, this year started with me knowing I can and will go on! Thanks for the reminder to check in with my heart. I’m going to do the letter to myself next!

    Liked by 3 people

  17. Really enjoyed this, thank you 🙂 I have just started posting and would love to hear your thoughts, I have a huge passion for sharing information and at the moment I’m focusing on our potential as human beings and the power we hold but don’t realise. Anyway, thanks for the read.
    Love and light

    Liked by 2 people

  18. This is such a great exercise, Val. It’s definitely one we should do each year. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  19. Thank you, Val, for this reminder. So much has happened this past year and to put onto paper all of it, and what occurred as a result, is I feel very important for me to do. I’m not sure where I am heading right now as I am still putting major pieces back together after the Great Upheaval of my life. Yet this I do know. Peace as I once experienced years ago but on a deeper level, is manifesting. The time of my life I am referring to is before Great Strife entered my life in order to chip away all that no longer benefited me for my Highest Good. May 2018 be your best year yet and may you experience Peace beyond Understanding. Much Love to you. 💞

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you dear Amy 🌹
      Taking on the biggest challenges in life is so hard, but can bring out the best in us and transform us to our very Being.
      Wishing you al that you would hope for in the New Year and beyond. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

      • I agree with you, Val, that taking on the biggest challenges DO bring out the best in us IF we but allow them to. Wishing you all the very best in the coming New Year!!! 🎉

        Liked by 1 person

  20. I love the idea of “kind sight,” Val. Thank you for this lovely post, and all the gentle wisdom you share throughout the year. My best wishes for a great new year.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you Jet. Being kind with ourselves and towards others is something the world definitely needs. Wishing you al the best for the New Year! Thank you for being a part of this special WP community and sharing your wisdom and Athena’s images along the way 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Kind sight…what a perfect way to look back on a troubling year, Val. Thanks for this one. And blessings in the new year to you and yours.

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Excellent reminders Val.. May we all find our Kind Sight.. and learn to share it with others. xxx ❤ xxx Well wishes again dear Val for a very Happy New Year xx

    Liked by 2 people

  23. I like the idea of “kind sight”. An enlightening exercise for us at this time of year. Thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

  24. Oh wow, Val! Kind sight! Just a mere few days ago, someone said of me, “You are always so kind.” And here you are encouraging all who read this, to be kind not only to themselves, which is always first, but to others as well. Great post and great insights!! Happy New Year!! xo

    Liked by 2 people

  25. Very cool idea. Will definitely ponder it as I venture into 2020.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. what a wonderful exercise, val. happiest of New Years to you, and may you continue to grow each year

    Liked by 1 person

  27. I love the phrase “kind sight”, and the exercises you provided to reflect back on 2019 as well looking forward to the new year. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and kind year, Val.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Wonderful post, Val. Love your concept of “kind sight.” Never heard that before – such marvellous meaning. Really warm to it.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Val, this is a brilliant idea. In fact, if you don’t mind, I’d like to share it with my Friday Creative Writing class that I teach – what a wonderful way to start our writing year together. THANK YOU, and Happy 2020 to you.

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Love this! Thanks for you guidance and inspiration. I look forward to continuing to follow your light, Val.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. What a wonderful practice. I definitely discovered the greatest blessings this past year in the hardest tasks, a willingness to do them and gratitude for having the opportunity. I’ll take a few moments later to reflect. Have a Happy New Year, Val, full of tranquility, adventure, and gratefulness.

    Liked by 3 people

  32. Wow! Interesting idea.

    Liked by 2 people

  33. I love this Val, I do a lot of letters of appreciation but never really thought about doing one to myself for the future. Pre-paving an amazing year. Thank you!!

    Liked by 2 people

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