Before the Year Ends: A Guide to Closing the Year with Intention

As the year comes to an end, it’s natural to feel the rush — the pressure to wrap things up, fix everything, or magically transform yourself before January 1st.

But that’s not what creates real change.

Real transformation begins with clarity, awareness, and a willingness to think in a new way.
That’s the heart of Brave Thinking — and the theme of this month’s reflection.

Below is a gentle, skimmable guide you can walk yourself through over the next few days to help you close the year with intention and begin the next one from a place of alignment.

1. Pause + Notice What’s Working

Most people skip over reflection and jump straight into planning.
But if you want a different year, you need a different level of awareness.

Ask Yourself:

  • What am I proud of this year?
  • Where did I grow, even in small ways?
  • What habits or patterns no longer support who I’m becoming?

This isn’t about perfection — it’s about clarity.

Takeaway: You can’t create a new life from old thinking. Reflection is the doorway to expansion.

2. Let Go of What No Longer Serves You

Before you fill next year with goals, ideas, and new commitments, make space.

Letting go doesn’t mean losing something — it means creating room for what you truly want.

Consider Releasing:

  • Old stories about what you’re capable of
  • Environments or commitments that drain you
  • Thought patterns rooted in fear or limitation
  • Expectations that keep you small

Even a symbolic “release list” can shift your energy.

Takeaway: Letting go is an act of power — not loss.

3. Celebrate Your Wins (Especially the Small Ones)

We are wired to overlook progress in favour of focusing on what didn’t happen.
But your brain — and your vision — need acknowledgment.

Try This 5-Minute Practice:

  • Grab a piece of paper
  • Write ten wins from this year
  • Yes, ten

Some might feel small. Some might feel messy.
All of them matter.

When you name your wins, you strengthen your belief in what’s possible for you.

Takeaway: What you appreciate, appreciates.

4. Set the Energy Before You Set the Goals

Before you step into the new year with a list of intentions, get grounded in the energy you want to live from.

Ask Yourself:

  • How do I want to feel next year?
  • What qualities do I want to embody?
  • Who am I becoming?
  • What version of me creates the life I would love?

Brave Thinking teaches that transformation begins with identity — not action.

Your energy is the blueprint.

Takeaway: You don’t build a new life from who you were — you build it from who you are becoming.

5. Design a Vision That Actually Pulls You Forward

When you think about the year ahead, start with one simple, powerful question:

✨ What would I love?

Not what seems realistic.
Not what looks possible based on your past.
Not what others expect from you.

But what your heart truly desires.

Choose one area of your life to focus on today:

  • Health
  • Relationships
  • Purpose or career
  • Time freedom
  • Financial abundance
  • Creativity and self-expression

Then name one small aligned action you can take at the start of the year.

Small steps compound.
Brave steps transform.

Takeaway: Vision doesn’t require certainty — it requires willingness.

A Simple Framework You Can Use Today

Here is a clean 3-step model (Brave Thinking–aligned) to close the year with intention:

1. Reflect

Name your wins, lessons, and patterns.

2. Release

Let go of the thinking, habits, and commitments you’ve outgrown.

3. Reimagine

Ask “What would I love?” and set the energetic tone for the year ahead.

Do these three steps and you’ll enter the new year aligned — not overwhelmed.

Ready for a More Vision-Driven Year?

Join my mailing list and get empowering insights, practical mindset tools, and Brave Thinking® practices designed to help you stay aligned with your vision and make a real impact — in your life and the world around you.

You’ll also be the first to hear about upcoming workshops, coaching opportunities, and free resources to support your personal and professional growth.

Your transformation begins with one bold thought — stay connected, think bravely, and take the next step forward.

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