The New Year Reset I Actually Finish Every Year

There's something sacred about closing out a year.

Not the champagne-and-confetti kind of sacred (though I'm not opposed to that either). I'm talking about the quiet, reflective kind. The kind where you sit with yourself and honor everything that happened—the planned, the unexpected, the messy, and the magical.

I've tried a lot of year-end rituals over the years. The 100-question deep dives. The vision board marathons. The elaborate ceremonies that looked beautiful on paper but left me exhausted before I even started.

Here's what I've learned: if the process is too complicated, I won't do it. And this reflection is too important to skip.

So I've pieced together my favorite elements into something streamlined, meaningful, and actually doable. Something that honors where I've been and sets the foundation for where I'm going without needing an entire weekend to complete it.

This is the ritual I return to every single year. And I'm sharing it with you because it works.
 

The Process

1. Start by Celebrating

Before you dive into what didn't work or what you want to change, pause and acknowledge what went right.

List all the good things that happened this year—both planned and unexpected. The promotions, the breakthroughs, the moments of joy you didn't see coming.

Pay special attention to those unexpected wins. That's the universe delivering what you needed, even when you weren't actively focused on it. That random conversation that turned into an opportunity. The book that showed up at exactly the right time. The person who appeared when you needed them most.

When we only celebrate what we planned for, we miss the magic happening all around us.

2. Write a Gratitude List

Being thankful for people, places, events—big and small—reminds you how great life really is, even when it doesn't feel like it's going your way.

There is always something to be grateful for.

The morning coffee that tasted perfect. The friend who texted at just the right moment. The body that carried you through another year. The home that sheltered you. The lessons disguised as challenges.

This isn't toxic positivity. This is remembering that even in hard seasons, there are threads of grace woven throughout.

And here's the truth: we get more of what we focus our attention on. Gratitude isn't just a feel-good practice—it's a frequency shift.

3. List What Didn't Go Well

Now let's get honest.

What didn't work out the way you thought it would? What fell apart? What disappointed you?

Give yourself permission to name what hurt, what frustrated you, what didn't land. This isn't about dwelling—it's about acknowledging. You can't release what you aren't willing to look at.

4. Lessons Learned

This is where the growth lives.

What moments stretched you? What patterns kept showing up? What did life keep trying to teach you?

Maybe you learned that rest isn't optional. That boundaries aren't selfish. That your intuition was right all along, even when you second-guessed it.

Write down the lessons you want to integrate moving forward. The wisdom you earned this year doesn't have to be re-learned next year—but only if you honor it now.

5. Forgiveness List

This one's tender. And important.

What do you need to forgive yourself for? Where did you fall short of your own expectations? What mistakes are you still carrying?

Let yourself off the hook. You were doing the best you could with what you knew at the time. Beating yourself up doesn't make you better, it just makes you tired.

And then—where do you need to let go of resentment toward others? Who hurt you? Who disappointed you? What grudges are you still holding?

Forgiveness doesn't mean what they did was okay. It means you're no longer willing to carry the weight of it into your new year. You deserve to travel light.

This step can be hard. It asks you to be gentle with yourself and release what no longer serves you. But it's one of the most powerful things you can do. You're not bringing your mistakes, your perceived shortcomings, or anyone else's baggage into the next chapter. You're choosing freedom.

6. Three Words You're Letting Go Of

Distill everything you're releasing into three words.

These are the energies, patterns, or identities you're leaving behind. Maybe it's: hustle, proving, perfectionism. Or: scarcity, doubt, performing.

Write them down. Say them out loud. Then symbolically release them. Rip up the paper. Burn it (safely). Let it go.

7. Set Your New Year Intentions

Now we get to dream.

What do you want for the coming year? For everything. Love, work, health, personal growth, creativity, rest—anything you can think of.

If you don't write it down, it has no chance of coming into your reality.

This isn't about rigid goals or shoulds. This is about getting clear on what you actually want. What would make your heart sing? What would feel like alignment? What does your soul crave?

Write it all down. Don't edit. Don't make it "realistic." Just let yourself want what you want.

8. Three Words for Your New Year

Now distill your intentions into three words that capture the energy you're calling in.

These are your anchors. Your reminders. The frequency you're tuning into.

Maybe it's: ease, abundance, joy. Or: courage, alignment, freedom.

Let these words guide your decisions, your energy, your yes and no.

Extra Credit: Make Your Intentions Visible

One year, I did this entire ritual. I set beautiful intentions. I felt clear and inspired.

And then I completely forgot about them.

I made the list, tucked it in a journal, and moved on with life. When I found it months later, I realized I'd been so focused on keeping up, on proving myself, on doing what I thought I should do, that I'd abandoned the commitments I made to myself.

The intentions were all about how I wanted to be moving forward—following my design, allowing rest, trusting my timing. Things I genuinely wanted to embrace but struggled with because they go against everything our culture teaches us about productivity and worth.

It was a hard lesson. But an important one.

Now? I make a pretty printout in Canva and put it somewhere I'll see it every single day.

Keeping your intentions top of mind makes you that much more likely to feel progress throughout the year. Just as you can't give from an empty cup—you can't live your intentions if you forget what they are.

Take care of yourself first. The rest will follow.

After You Set Your Intentions...

Here's the thing about intentions: they're beautiful. Inspiring. Full of possibility.

But they need action to come alive.

Now that you've just spent time getting clear on what you want for this next year, don't let that clarity fade.

My DARE to Dream™ program is designed specifically for this moment. It takes that vision you just created and helps you embody it. It's not about hustle or force—it's about alignment, release, and taking small, consistent steps that honor your design and your desires.

If you're ready to turn your intentions into reality, click HERE to make it happen together.

Here's to closing out this year with grace and stepping into the next one with clarity.

You've got this. 🌿
Jackie