Reflecting Forward: A Journal Prompt

You may be wondering…what in the world does reflecting forward mean?

I usually ask my clients some variation of “if your life could look the way you want, what would change today?” Sometimes there is a well thought out answer, often times there is silence. At the end of the year, resolutions usually take the focus with reflections following behind as an example of what not to do; however, reflections—especially self-reflections—do not always have to mean looking backward in time, sometimes looking forward provides insight into what’s next for your journey.

I’d like for you to try this journal prompt instead of writing bullet point resolutions.

You are going to start off by dating the letter December 31, 2021. In this letter, you are going to write to your current self, pouring in graciousness about where you are in life and growth. Seal this letter and put it away (somewhere accessible). Set a reminder in your calendar for December 31, 2021 to open the letter with directions to where this letter has been placed.

I’ve provided you with an example of my own:

December 31, 2021

Lovely Rochelle,

This year was a whirlwind but you rolled with the punches and changed direction as necessary to meet your goals. There are some things that you realized were not as important as you thought, and that’s okay. You took risks, big risks with your personal growth and relationships. You made steps in healing generational trauma and have provided your siblings with insight into what it’s truly like to be an adult figuring things out. You are going into the last year of your 20s with such peace and focus that you couldn’t possibly have dreamed of. Continue to be brave as you don’t know what this next year will hold, but you do know you are right where you need to be.

I hope you find this exercise quite refreshing.

Written by Rochelle Marecheau, LMFT