— A quiet New Year practice that’s helped me grow year after year

*A quiet moment to look back before moving forward.*

Every New Year since 2019, I’ve done the same quiet ritual.

While the world is busy talking about resolutions and fresh starts, I sit down and look back. I open a document I keep in OneNote — a living, ongoing record — and I walk through the same set of questions every year.

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Not to judge myself.

Not to impress anyone.

Not to rewrite the past.

Just to remember.

Most years, I only read it once — at New Year’s. And honestly, that’s enough.

Because every time I do, I’m reminded of how much can happen in a single year… and how much we forget along the way.

Here are the questions I ponder and reflect upon.

What Did I Enjoy Doing? (Memorable Events)

This question always comes first, and it’s very literal.

I go through my calendar and write down:

Where I went
What I did
Things I saw
Meaningful moments in my business
Major life changes, if there were any

Some things are big. Some are small. Some I’d completely forgotten about.

Looking back at these lists year after year amazes me. I see how much I’ve done, how I’ve grown, and how I’ve changed. And sometimes, simply remembering what I already lived through makes me feel proud — in a quiet way.

What or Who Am I Grateful For?

This question has become more meaningful the longer I’ve done this.

When you only do it once, it’s a snapshot.

When you do it year after year, it becomes a story.

Some people show up consistently.

Some were only part of my life for a season.

Some influenced me deeply — and then disappeared from my day-to-day life.

But looking back reminds me that gratitude doesn’t require permanence. Even people who are no longer part of my life mattered at one point — and acknowledging that is powerful.

What Was My Biggest Win This Year?

I love this question — and I find it fascinating.

Some years, there are several wins.

Some years, there’s one big one.

And one year, I didn’t write anything at all.

Looking back on that year now makes me pause. What was I going through that made it hard to even recognize a win? That awareness alone tells me how far I’ve come.

This question forces me to revisit challenges and recognize what I overcame — even when I didn’t feel victorious in the moment.

What Did I Read, Watch, or Listen To That Had the Most Impact?

I love learning.

Books. Audible. Podcasts. Motivational content while getting ready in the morning or driving down the road — it’s all part of how I grow.

When I reread past years, this section often surprises me the most. I rediscover books and ideas that shaped me — and sometimes realize I need to go back and reread or relisten to something that once made a big impact.

It’s a reminder that growth is rarely one-and-done.

What Did I Worry About the Most — and How Did It Turn Out?

This one is eye-opening every single time.

Looking back at the current year is helpful.

Looking back across multiple years is transformative.

So many things I once worried about no longer exist. They aren’t part of my life at all. That realization alone is a powerful lesson in how worry steals joy from today — even when the future usually works itself out.

What Was My Biggest Regret — and Why?

I don’t look at regrets with shame.

I look at them as lessons.

When I reread old regrets, I ask myself:

Do I still regret this?
Did I learn from it?
Did I change how I handle similar situations?

This question becomes a stepping stone into the new year — not something that holds me back.

What’s One Thing That Changed About Me?

This question shows growth more clearly than almost anything else.

Looking back just one year is interesting.

Looking back six years is incredible.

I can see how I’ve changed, how I think differently, and how my priorities have evolved. It’s proof that growth is happening — even when it feels slow day to day.

What Surprised Me Most This Year?

This one is fun.

Because it’s not something I planned.

It’s not something I worked toward.

It’s just what surprised me.

Some years, the surprises are joyful.

Some years, they’re shocking.

Some years, they change everything.

And I always enjoy sitting with this question and letting the year speak for itself.

If I Could Go Back to Last January 1…

Every year, this question stops me in my tracks.

When I reread past advice to myself, I often realize I could still use it today. It’s a powerful way to reset — carrying wisdom forward instead of starting over from scratch.

Which brings me to the year ahead. What do I want to be able to include when 365 days from now I look back on 2026?

One Word - How the Right Word Finds Me — and How I Live With It

Not a resolution — a quiet guide I return to when choosing how I show up, how I decide, and how I move forward.

For many, many years I have chosen a Word for the upcoming year.

I’ve found this approach far more meaningful than making a long list of New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions often feel overwhelming, easy to forget, or too rigid once real life shows up. A single word, on the other hand, is simple enough to remember — and flexible enough to live with. Choosing my Word is a one-time a year decision — but it’s not something I rush or take lightly.

I don’t force a word.

I don’t pick it because it sounds good or trendy.

I pray about it.

I sit with it.

I search for it.

Every year, I reread One Word by Jon Gordon, Jimmy Page, and Dan Britton. That book always brings me back to the heart of the process and reminds me that this isn’t about trying to find the perfect word.

More often, it feels like the right word finds me.

Once I know my word, that’s when the real work begins.

While choosing the word happens once, the word itself isn’t a “big-moment-only” thing. It’s not something I pull out only when I’m facing a major decision or challenge. I intentionally weave it into my everyday life.

I make it visible:

I create a simple graphic and hang it in my bathroom to see everyday
I put it as a decal on my water mug
I use it as a screensaver on my phone

These small, daily reminders keep the word present — not demanding, just steady.

Throughout the year, I come back to it in ordinary moments:

How am I spending my time today?
How am I responding to this situation?
Does this choice align with my word?

The word becomes a filter — helping guide my actions, my mindset, and even my habits. Not perfectly. Not rigidly. But intentionally.

Some of my past Word of the Year include Discipline, Focus, Intentional, Execute, Determination. I have a word in mind for 2026, but am going to dwell on it for a few more days.

What Do I Want to Accomplish in the New Year?

*Clarity, intention… and maybe a little champagne.*

And last but not least this question naturally follows everything that comes before it — and it’s one of my favorites.

After looking back at what I enjoyed, what challenged me, what I worried about, and what I actually accomplished, I’m able to move into the new year with clarity instead of pressure.

This is where the Word of the Year and my goals come together.

When I reread past years, I’m often surprised by how much I did accomplish — even in years that felt heavy or unproductive at the time. Other times, I notice patterns: things I’ve been working toward for several years, or areas that still deserve focus and intention.

Rather than creating a long list of resolutions, this question helps me think more holistically:

What do I want to continue?
What do I want to refine?
What truly matters going forward?

My Word of the Year becomes a guide here — helping shape not just what I want to accomplish, but how I want to show up while doing it.

A Practice Worth Keeping

*The exact questions I use every year — shared here in case you want to try this practice for yourself.*

If you’ve never done a year-in-review like this, I highly recommend it.

Not for social media.

Not for comparison.

Just for you.

You can do it once.

You can do it every year.

You can keep it in a simple document or a running OneNote like I do.

But taking the time to look back — honestly and without judgment — has been one of the most anchoring practices in my life.

Sometimes the most powerful way to move forward…

is to take an honest look back.

I Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions. I Do This Instead.