The lights are twinkling, the calendar is winding down, and your to-do list is somehow longer than it was in July.

You’re closing projects, ordering gifts, juggling school concerts, and squeezing in one last client meeting before the holidays hit full swing.

And in those quiet moments between wrapping up the year and collapsing into bed, you think:
“Next year will be different.”

You promise yourself you’ll slow down.

You’ll set better boundaries.

You’ll finally focus on the things that matter most.

But here’s the truth: you can’t create a new year from old patterns.

Until you pause to reflect on this one—what worked, what didn’t, what stretched and shaped you—you’ll end up recreating the same misalignment, just with a new planner and a fresh burst of motivation.

That’s why a real year-end review isn’t just a feel-good ritual.

It’s a leadership practice.

It’s the moment you reclaim your direction.

Why Reflection Matters More Than Resolution

Most high-achieving women I coach are masters at forward motion.

We’re wired for growth, achievement, and progress.

But we rarely slow down to integrate the lessons of the year that’s ending.

We skip the reflection because itfeels unproductive.

But here’s what the research shows:

• A Harvard Business School study found that employees who spent just 15 minutes reflecting at the end of the day performed 23% better after only ten days than those who didn’t.
   
• Neuroscience research from the University of Texas shows that journaling and reflection strengthen the brain’s learning and problem-solving centers—helping you make better decisions and avoid repeating mistakes.
   
• Psychology Today reports that self-reflection increases emotional intelligence and resilience, two of the strongest predictors of long-term success and fulfillment.
   

Reflection doesn’t slow your progress—it accelerates it.

It helps you see the story beneath the stats, the growth behind the goals, and the wisdom woven into the challenges.

And this is exactly where transformation begins.

What My Own Year-End Review Taught Me

For years, I treated reflection like an optional step.

I’d hit December exhausted, flip through my goals, and tally what I hadn’t achieved.

But one year, I decided to do it differently.

Instead of measuring success by how much I got done, I looked through the lens of the Fulfilled Life Formula—Clarity, Capacity, and Calling.

Who did I become this year?
Where did my energy flow freely—and where did it get stuck?
Did my choices align with the purpose God placed on my life, or did I get caught chasing what looked impressive instead of what felt right?

The answers were humbling. But they were also freeing.

I realized that some of my “failures” were actually divine redirections.

The opportunities that fell through had created space for something better.

And the seasons that stretched me most had also refined me most deeply.

That’s the beauty of a true review—it turns data into discernment.

It gives you clarity not just on what happened, but on the deeper lessons it revealed.

Action Step: 3 steps for a True Year-end review

1. Celebrate and Acknowledge

Before you critique or analyze—pause to celebrate.

Write down at least ten wins from this year—big or small.
Include moments of courage, consistency, or growth that no one else saw.

Ask yourself:

• What did I do this year that I once doubted I could?
• When did I show up even when it was hard?
• What am I grateful for that I didn’t have a year ago?

Gratitude grounds you in truth—it reminds your brain that progress isn’t always visible, but it’s always happening.

2. Reflect and Release

Next, turn toward the lessons.

This is where honesty becomes your greatest tool.

Ask yourself:

• What drained me this year? What fueled me?
• Which commitments or relationships felt heavy or forced?
• Where did I ignore the early whispers that something wasn’t right?
• What story about success or worth am I ready to let go of?

Write it down. Reflect on it. If you’re led to, Pray over it.

And then—release it.

You can’t step into the new while holding onto what you’re being led to lay down.

3. Realign and Reimagine

Now, look forward through the lens of who you’ve become—not who you used to be.

Ask yourself:

• What does alignment look and feel like for me in this next season?
• How do I want my days to flow—my mornings, my energy, my work, my relationships?
• What values or boundaries will guide me this year?
• What one word or phrase will define the intention I want to carry into 2026?

Close your reflection by writing a declaration for yourself.
It should set an intention for the year ahead.

Here are some options to get you started:

• “This year, I choose alignment over achievement and purpose over pressure.”
• “I no longer chase what drains me—I choose what sustains me,”
• “This year, I will honor my energy, protect my peace, and trust divine timing.”
• “I am walking in freedom, clarity, and grace – fully aligned with who I was created to be.” 

How I Can Help

If you’re ready to close this year with intention instead of exhaustion, here are three ways we can go deeper:

1. Purchase my International Bestselling Book that goes through the framework that has helped 1,000+ coaching and executive clients. You can find more information HERE.
2. Join our upcoming retreat in 2026. Find more information HERE.
3. Build a custom strategy to reach your goals without burning out or compromising your purpose. Find out more information on this FREE complimentary call.

Your turn to reflect a step further:

As you look back on this year, ask yourself:

What am I most proud of from 2025?
What do I need to release before I step into 2026?
And who am I becoming in the process?

Because fulfillment doesn’t come from what you achieve—it comes from living in alignment with who you were created to be.

– Christi Cossette