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REFLECTION
Welcome to Calm Point's end-of-year newsletter! I know you are inundated with messages to “do something” this new year. Me too. May this be your reminder that you can choose to reflect and set intentions for 2023 any time you please. When and if you are ready, here are three cherished guided meditation practices to gently usher in a new year.
As I reflect on this year you, readers and listeners of Calm Point, are top of mind. Thank you for practicing with me. Thank you for sending notes of encouragement, personal stories, and my favorite; moments of ah-ha.
When I set out to create Calm Point the intention was to curate a friendly and helpful place for busy minds to get a break. I never considered I’d become part of a community. Ananda, who was a close friend of Buddha’s had a realization one day about friendship. He said, “This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.” The Buddha responded, “Don’t say that, Ananda. Don’t say that,” he exclaimed. “ “Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life.”
I get that, luckily, because of you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for providing a sounding board to what I love most, creativity and personal growth.
Cheers to our friendship and a new year—may it bring a zillion happy moments.
Hugs,
Lauren
If you received benefits from Calm Point this year, please share with those you think would also benefit.
HOW TO USE THIS NEWSLETTER
This newsletter is in three sections.
Looking Back
Looking Forward
Setting the tone of 2023*
In each section, you will find a guided meditation practice and inward reflection practice for diving deeper (if and when you are ready). There is so much goodness and discovery available for you.
Save this post, and come back to it within the new year. There is no need to feel rushed or pressured. Trust your intuition and know that you have more than enough time to reflect and set intentions for the new year that feel aligned with the rhythm of your life.
*Setting the tone of 2023 is something I’ve practiced for myself for years, shared with close friends and family, and now to you. The idea is to carve out time to connect with how you want to feel in the year ahead and find the word(s) that embody that. For example, 2022 was the year of “radical change” for me, and it proved to unfold that way. I hope you enjoy this light-hearted and quick practice.
**For those who are busy and don’t have too much time to reflect on this year, may you find the “setting of the tone” practice welcoming and helpful. Practice is available here.
LOOKING BACK
Start Here→Reflection Meditation Practice
20-minute guided meditation to reflect on 2022 and offer you the space to heal. This meditation practice goes through prompting questions and provides quiet pauses for reflection. Remember this may be new to you. Be kind to yourself as you learn to practice. Some days it comes easier than others but over time it strengthens. Easy does it and begin again. :) Listen here.
Inward Reflections
A step-by-step guide to looking back on 2022.
Using Buddha’s s steps to calm the mind we will apply the same structure to review this year.
How to use:
1. Carve out 60 minutes where you won’t be interrupted.
2. Grab a journal to write or answer the questions with a trusted friend.
Recognition: Stop, recognize, and acknowledge all you have been through this year. Select a few questions below or answer all of the following questions.
Who did you spend quality time with this year? What did they teach you?
How have you grown this year? Did anything help to propel your growth?
What has become clear to you now (or any big ah-ha’s)?
What was a meaningful memory this year?
What about this year are you grateful for?
How did your environment or space change this year? How did you feel about it?
If you had to use one word to describe 2022 what would it be?
Looking Deeply: Looking deeply into the roots of your discomfort this year helps you to get closer to their roots. Easy does it. Being curious and inquisitive with whole-lotta compassion. These are great findings to share with a therapist or trusted friend. Remember, self-study does not have to be alone.
What area of your life felt the heaviest or hardest for you to understand this year? Why do you think that is? (Work, relationships, spiritual, finances, health, etc)
Who did you find yourself being judgmental and angry towards? Why do you think that is?
What did you give yourself a hard time about this year? Where do you think you learned to do that? Is there a better way?
Acceptance: Once you have had a chance to write or share your review of this year ask yourself, “Am I willing to accept this year as it is?”
It’s okay if the answer is no. Just simply take note of where you are feeling resistance towards accepting this year and know that change is possible through the gift of impermanence. You may feel differently at some point about acceptance of 2022. (For those of you who have experienced the loss of loved ones please know that there is no need to rush your healing process. Honor wherever you are on that journey. My heart is with you.)
If you are open to accepting this year as it is, simply note what that feels like in your body, mind, and heart. Send a heart flare out to all beings, may they too find the courage and freedom to accept their year as it is. May all beings be free from discomfort//suffering.
Insight: Insight helps you to live freely and renew yourself.
What wisdom will you carry with you into the new year?
Embracing: Think of this like a hug, a warm embrace to the year 2022. Imagine wrapping your arms around your entire year with compassion, offering love and understanding to yourself. Think of this as the beginning of transforming this year’s experiences into wisdom—from the seat of love and understanding.
Light a candle as a symbol of embracing the year, bringing happiness, and good luck.
Intention Practice
Use this intention practice to create closure of 2022. Let go, let be, and start fresh.
LOOKING FORWARD
Start Here→Truest Most Beautiful Life Meditation Practice
Join a guided meditation that holds space to dream up a day of your truest most beautiful life. Connect with a life that is true -- a life that is beautiful to you. A great starting point for looking forward to 2023. Remember this may be new to you. Start where you can and be kind to yourself. Some days it comes easier than others but over time it strengthens. Have fun and you can always begin again. :) Listen here.
Inward Reflections
“If you told me on your deathbed that your life had not been a success, what would be the things you’d wish had happened that would have made it a success?” -Gay Hendricks’ book, “The Five Wishes”
Tip: Ok, I know, this is a big question. Take a few deep breaths and write down/share anything that pops up. Don’t overthink it. Trust your instincts.
Turn these wishes into goals if that feels good to you. If goals feel too rigid in any way I want to offer the option of using these wishes as guideposts. Let them guide you towards your well-being and feeling successful. Tip: Be mindful of the wishes that feel unshakable and true to you. Use this guided meditation if you are feeling stuck.
Not everything has to be accomplished right away. There’s no pressure, only clarity on what it means to have a successful life on your terms.
Set the Tone for 2023
Intention Meditation Practice
Join a guided meditation to discover your word (intention) for the new year. This meditation welcomes a calm body and mind. There is a prompting question, "How do you want this new year to feel? What words embody that feeling for you?" with space to explore. Remember this may be new to you. Start where you can and be kind to yourself. Some days it comes easier than others but over time it strengthens. Have fun and you can always begin again.
OMG—you made it this far. ;) What did you discover? What practice will you try? Share below.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED
I’ll be sharing my end-of-year reflections and 2023 word on social. Let’s stay connected→@laurenlee.love and @calmpoint_ .
End of Year Practice: Reflection