Photo by: Kim Long Photography

What are you thinking about right now? Are you thinking you shouldn’t be reading this because you have online shopping to do before it’s too late for shipping gifts for the holidays? Are you thinking how exhausted you are as you try to settle down after putting in a few more hours at the office to make end-of-year deadlines? Or, maybe you’re stressing out about getting the house ready for out-of-town guests? It’s a busy time, there’s no doubt, but it’s important to slow down and spend time reflecting on your life.

There are only a couple more weeks before we bid farewell to 2009 and welcome a fresh, new year. Many of you may be more than happy to see 2009 become history, but before you push past these last couple weeks of the year simply to start anew, it’s important to find time for self-reflection. Self-reflection is part of self-awareness.

I invite you to finish this question, ”What I love most about my life is….”and then ask yourself why? What is it that makes that part of your life so special? And then sit in that feeling of happiness and contentment. Then ask yourself how you embraced that part of your life this past year. Did you spend good times with your family? Were you healthy all year? Did you get a promotion? Whatever you love about your life can be explored more deeply through self-reflection. And even if it was a rough year, ask yourself if you came out stronger, are you more confident? Maybe you’re apprehensive about your future, that’s okay, and acknowledging that to yourself can be cathartic. Admitting you’re having a hard time, might encourage you to take time to get the help you need to live the life you deserve.

Self-reflection isn’t always easy to do, but the results of being honest with yourself will only make this new year a time for real growth and potential.

Enjoy finding time to bake cookies or gather around a good movie with family and friends and look around you and just sink into the goodness of your life, then find a quite moment to be proud of all you’ve accomplished this year, or all the suffering you’ve overcome. The validation comes best when it comes from within.

Enjoy your holiday season, and may you all find the good stuff in 2010!