Soul Inspiration – Reflections of 2024

Can you believe we are in December, oh my how time goes so fast. Have you felt like this year went fast? As the year winds down I find it’s the perfect time for a little bit of reflection.

December often brings a natural pause, an invitation to look back at the months behind us, at the goals we set and the word we created back in January. It’s a time to honour what we’ve achieved, recognise where we may have fallen short, and to start thinking about what we want to carry forward into the next year.

Did you set a New Year’s resolution for 2024? Perhaps something along the lines of “I want to eat healthier” or “I want to exercise more” or “I’ll give up smoking”? It’s such a common practice to set resolutions, yet I’ve found that resolutions often lack the clarity and direction needed to create lasting change. Resolutions are like promises we make to ourselves, often focused on a specific behaviour or habit, but they can be tricky to maintain because they’re typically not tied to a broader purpose.

Unlike resolutions, goals are measurable and action-oriented, giving us something tangible to work towards. A resolution might be “exercise more,” but a goal transforms that desire into something concrete, like “exercise three times a week” or “complete a 5K by summer.” Goals allow us to track our progress, celebrate small victories, and keep moving forward, even when life gets busy.

Each year, I not only set goals but also choose a single word as the theme of my year—a guiding light that aligns with my personal numerology and the intentions I want to focus on. For me, a word of the year provides a sense of direction that goes beyond any specific goal. It’s about embracing a certain mindset or energy that I can carry with me in everything I do, from my work to my relationships and my personal growth.

This year, my word was Openness. As I reflect on this choice, I ask myself: Did I embrace openness in the way I hoped? Was I open to new experiences, new relationships, and new ways of thinking? Looking back, I see moments where I truly embodied this word, stepping out of my comfort zone and welcoming change with an open heart. But there were also times when I held back, feeling the familiar pull of old patterns.

Openness reminded me to let go of rigid expectations, to allow life to unfold rather than trying to control every outcome. It’s been a year of expanding, of listening more, and being present, even when it felt uncomfortable. The word wasn’t about achieving something specific but about embracing a way of being that has shaped my year in ways I couldn’t have planned.

As I feel the shift in energy towards 2025, I’m entering what’s known in numerology as a personal year of 6—a year that’s often associated with themes of nurturing, responsibility, and relationships. It’s a time for building stronger connections, both with ourselves and with others. So, as I begin to think about the word that will guide me in this new year, I’m drawn to ideas of balance, harmony, and self-care.

Choosing a word for the year isn’t about perfection; it’s about setting an intention that feels aligned with where we are in our lives. It’s a touchstone we can come back to, something that can remind us of our purpose and direction, even on days when we feel a bit lost. This word doesn’t have to be grand or impressive—sometimes, the simplest words hold the deepest meaning.

If you’re thinking about goals or resolutions for the new year, I invite you to reflect on what you truly want to experience in 2025. Consider choosing a word that resonates with your heart, something that captures how you want to feel or what you hope to cultivate in the coming months.

Ask yourself:

• What lessons did this past year bring?
• What goals or intentions helped me grow?
• How do I want to feel in 2025?

Whether your word is courage, growth, love, or something else entirely, let it be a gentle reminder of your intentions. Let it be a grounding force when life gets busy, and let it inspire you to stay true to yourself, no matter what the year holds.

As I move into my personal year of 6, I look forward to embracing new themes and intentions, welcoming whatever this year has in store. For me, 2025 will be a year of cultivating meaningful connections and finding balance. I hope that, as you reflect on your own journey, you find inspiration in the path you’ve walked and excitement for the one ahead.

Here’s to a year of intention, growth, and purpose—whatever that may look like for each of us.