Reflecting and Celebrating 2024 – Rooting Into Your Growth
As we close out 2024, let’s take a moment to pause, breathe, and root ourselves in reflection. I led my client community through this embodied reflection activity of honoring your journey this year with kindness, gratitude, and presence that recognizes all the visible and invisible growth you’ve made. As I reflected on this time last year, intentional growth often is not showy.
Grab yourself some tea, your journal, calendar or planner, and some fun things to draw or write with!
Step 1: Ground Yourself
Begin by practicing a moment of awareness:
Take a deep breath in, and let a long exhale out.
Notice the natural rhythm of your breath—how it comes and goes without force.
If it feels good, invite gentle movement into your body. Stretch your arms, roll your wrists, or twist side-to-side. Let your body guide you to what feels good.
The goal here is just to settle into reflection and shift from your thinking brain to your wise body. Allow yourself to settle into this present moment with compassion for all that you’ve experienced in 2024.
Step 2: Draw Your Tree
Grab a blank piece of paper and sketch a tree. This is your tree of reflection.
Include both the roots (below the surface) and the branches (above the surface).
The roots represent what has sustained and nourished you this year.
The branches represent your growth, accomplishments, and moments of expansion.
Step 3: Reflect on Your Roots
On or around the roots of your tree, write down the things that have sustained you in 2024 and the things that you have sustained. Think about:
Practices or habits that have grounded you.
Relationships that have nourished you.
Experiences that have strengthened you.
Moments of learning or resilience.
Consider the reciprocal relationship between you and these roots—what have you done to sustain them, and how have they nourished you in return?
Step 4: Celebrate Your Growth
Move to the branches of your tree. On or around the branches, jot down your accomplishments, growth, and "aha" moments from the year. Reflect on:
Challenges you’ve overcome.
New skills or knowledge you’ve gained.
Goals you’ve reached or progress you’ve made.
Joyful or meaningful experiences.
Step 5: Release and Clear
Take a few deep breaths, and as you exhale, imagine releasing anything from 2024 that no longer serves you. If it helps, write these things down on a separate piece of paper, then tear it up, burn it, crumple it, or let it go in a way that feels meaningful to you.
Step 6: Look Ahead
As you finish your tree, take a moment to admire it. This is a snapshot of your 2024—a year of roots and growth. Keep this image as a reminder of your strength and connection as you move forward into 2025.
Let’s celebrate your journey and the wisdom you’ve cultivated. What were some of your biggest "root" moments or "branch" expansions this year? I’d love to hear—feel free to share!
With gratitude and letting go of 2024!