The Year-End Reset: Overcoming the Blues and Embracing the Wins

A few days ago, I carved out some time to reflect on 2024. Although it wasn’t a full-fledged review, I began jotting down ideas and adding notes to my business plan for 2025. As I revisited my goals for 2024, neatly categorized into different "buckets," I had a mix of feelings. In some areas, I crushed it and made incredible progress. In others, I fell short—some goals were left unfinished or tackled poorly.

At first, my default reaction was to be critical of myself. I found myself wondering, How could I let this happen? What went wrong? It’s so easy to spiral into a mindset of frustration and self-blame when we don’t meet all our expectations. But as I caught myself heading down that path, I realized it was a limited and ungrateful way of thinking. After all, I had just recently written about the power of practicing gratitude and even shared my experience with a gratitude jar. How could I ignore my own advice?

I reminded myself of a simple truth: I’m only human, and I’m just one person. I can’t do it all, and I’m not supposed to. This moment of clarity gave me a chance to celebrate the wins I did achieve, big and small. I had to shift my focus from what didn’t go as planned to everything that did. It’s a mindset shift that allowed me to approach the next step—planning for 2025—with optimism and grace rather than guilt or regret.

You might be in a similar situation as me right now. As the end of the year approaches, it’s common to experience what I call the “end-of-year blues.” We reflect on what we hoped to accomplish and sometimes feel disheartened by unmet expectations. If we’re not careful, those blues can deepen and turn into something heavier—a lingering sense of failure or inadequacy.

But here’s the thing: the end of the year is not just a time to dwell on what didn’t happen; it’s an opportunity to celebrate what did. Instead of fixating on shortcomings, why not take stock of your wins? They don’t have to be monumental; even small victories matter. Did you learn something new? Did you show up for yourself or others in meaningful ways? Did you try, even if things didn’t pan out the way you envisioned? If the answer is yes, then you’ve made progress.

As you reflect, also remind yourself to extend grace and kindness to the person who worked through this year—you. The same way you’d support a friend who felt disappointed, offer yourself encouragement and perspective. Acknowledge that life isn’t perfect, and that’s okay.

2024 might not have gone exactly as planned, but it was still a chapter filled with lessons, growth, and moments worth celebrating. Let’s carry those insights forward into the new year, building on them as we create a brighter, more intentional future in 2025. End the year not with blues, but with gratitude and renewed purpose. You deserve it.

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Keep sowing and keep growing

Dr. Sheri-ann McLean-Williams

Visit my website www.mcleancoachingandconsulting.com

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