2025 – a fresh new year is upon us. So, is it time for more resolutions or for reflecting on the past year? For me, I am all for making a new set of resolutions. However, like previous years, I see the new year as an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by.
The human mind tends to remember negative things more easily and strongly than positive ones. We need to consciously train our mind to focus on things to be proud of, such as the connections we made or the old ones we retained, the people who inspired us, practising gratitude, and, most importantly, learning. Perhaps it was a new experience you enjoyed the most or new skills you acquired last year.
Let me give you my example. Last year, I took up running as a form of exercise. My goal was simple: to have a healthy body and feel energetic. I am still not a ‘great’ runner, but I am being consistent and giving it my best shot. I am not minimizing my efforts, nor am I judging my growth. Staying fit isn’t a day’s job. It’s not easy at all; it’s a constant work in progress.
We doubt ourselves too much and are pleasantly surprised when we achieve something we did not believe we could manage so well.
Sometimes things work out, and sometimes they just don’t. Whatever we discover about ourselves in the process has an impact on the path we are walking, our mindset, and our overall approach to life.
According to me, reflecting is a very uplifting exercise. We often move from one season to the next without truly taking the time to reflect and listen. We should learn to slow down and step back because our heart, mind, and body need rest.
It can be incredibly rewarding to take time each month or on any ordinary day to appreciate where we have been able to take ourselves and to acknowledge the conflicts we are still working through. Doing so takes the pressure off of ourselves as soon as January rolls out and allows us space to grow, learn, and move forward at our own pace and in our own way. Even if our progress may seem slow and sketchy, we are indeed moving forward, and each step ahead is teaching us along the way.
On this note, wishing everyone a fulfilling 2025!
– Swati Mohandas
About The Author
Swati Mohandas is a Philosophy graduate and a certified computer professional from Mumbai, based in Pune with her family for the last two decades. Literature has always fascinated her. She writes short stories, blogs, poems, and has ventured into freelance content writing. She has published an award-winning book of collected poems titled Myriad Whispers, available on Amazon. When she’s not writing, she enjoys listening to music, exploring the outdoors, and scanning local bookstores.