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November 20, 2024 11 mins

50 End Of Year Journal Prompts

What if embracing life's unpredictability could unlock your true potential? Inspired by Clara Penrose's "50 End-of-Year Journal Prompts," we journey through the powerful terrain of reflection and growth. We share personal stories of venturing beyond comfort zones, celebrating achievements, and finding resilience amidst challenges. Join us as we dive into the joy of spontaneous adventures and savor the beauty hidden in unexpected moments. Let's navigate the delicate balance between introspection and excitement, crafting a pathway to personal growth and self-awareness as we transition into a new year filled with promise.

Discover how evolving beliefs shape our actions and ignite our future aspirations. We'll guide you through mapping out future goals with imagination as your compass, breaking them down into actionable steps that lead to success. By nurturing relationships and acquiring new skills, we lay the groundwork for a fulfilling life. Moreover, the transformative power of reflective journaling awaits you—an opportunity to uncover hidden insights and connect the dots of your past, present, and future. So, grab your journal, cozy up, and explore a renewed sense of purpose with us as you step forward into the new year.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everyone, and welcome to another deep dive.
You know how it is as we getcloser to the new year, we start
to think about all that'shappened, all the highs, the
lows, the in-betweens.
Well, we found just the thingto help you really unpack it all
this time.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Clara Penrose's blog post 50 End-of-Year Journal
Prompts over at Lestallion.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh yeah, I remember seeing that one.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Yeah, it's from back in May.
But you know what?
It's never too early to startthinking about these things, and
we're going to dive deep intothose comps together today.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Perfect timing to you know, reflect on the year and
set some intentions for the nextone.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Totally, and Penrose really hits on that.
Looking back to see where we'vebeen, yeah, but also using that
to kind of launch ourselvesforward.
So are you ready to jump intosome of these juicy prompts with
me?

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Let's do it.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
All right.
So the first section is allabout reflecting on achievements
.
Love this Because you know wedon't always take the time to
celebrate our wins and Penrosereally encourages us to do just
that.
Right off the bat.
She asks for your three mostsignificant accomplishments of
the year and here's the key, whythey matter to you.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
I like that twist because it's not just about
listing things off, it's aboutunderstanding the why behind
them.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Exactly.
It's like those achievementsbecome these little signposts
pointing you towards what trulymotivates you, what gets you
fired up.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, it's like a mirror reflecting back your
values and passions.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Okay, so this next prompt is one that really
resonates with me personally.
Think about a time you steppedout of your comfort zone.
What did you learn?
You know like remember thattime.
You mentioned a specificexample drawn from listeners'
personal material that took guts.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Stepping outside that comfort zone is huge.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
I know it can be nerve-wracking, but I bet you
learned a ton about yourself inthe process.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Absolutely, and it's not just about trying new things
, it's about building resilience.
Each time you push past thoseboundaries, you're proving to
yourself that you can handlediscomfort.
You know that you can adapt andgrow.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
It's like giving your brain a workout, yeah, making
it more flexible and resourceful.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Exactly, and that is a superpower in today's world.
Let me tell you it's so truebecause, let's face it, life
isn't always about celebratingwins.
There are bumps in the road,challenges we all face, and
Penrose doesn't shy away fromthat in her next section
learning from challenges.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
Ooh, getting into the nitty gritty.
Yeah, this is where we get realOne prompt that stood out to me
is what was the biggestchallenge you faced this year
and how did you handle it?
It's so easy to just focus onthe negative when things get
tough.
But, what I love about thisprompt is that it pushes you to
look at how you dealt with it,yeah, and how you maybe even
learned from it.
Exactly because there's alwaysa lesson hidden in those

(02:38):
challenges.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Sometimes it's just hard to see it when you're in
the thick of it.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
For sure, but looking back, can you spot that lesson?
What did this experience teachyou about yourself, about your
strengths, your weaknesses, yourability to bounce back?

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Such a good point.
I mean, think about a time whenthings didn't go as planned.
Maybe when you refer to aspecific challenge from the
listener's material.
It probably felt frustrating atthe time.
But now, looking back, did youdiscover a new way to approach
things, did you learn to be moreadaptable?
That's what it's all about.
Those unaccepted detours oftenforce us to be more creative,

(03:12):
more resourceful.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
It's like life throws you a curveball and you realize
, hey, I can actually hit thisout of the park.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
And that's how you build a growth mindset, that
belief that you can learn andevolve even through tough times.
And you know those detours,they don't always have to be bad
.
Sometimes they lead us to somepretty incredible memories.
It's like life saying, hey, Iknow, this isn't what you
planned, but look what youdiscovered instead.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's so true, like a happy little accident, which
brings us perfectly to Penrose'snext set of prompts,
celebrating Memories.
She really encourages us tosavor those good times, like one
prompt asks about your happiestmemory of the year and what
made it so special.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
It's so important to pause and appreciate those
moments, because they really domake life sparkle.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, sometimes we get so caught up in the day to
day that we forget to do that.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Totally and think about it.
When you recall a happy memory,you're not just remembering the
event itself, you'rere-experiencing all those
emotions that came Exactly thatrush of joy, that feeling of
connection it all comes floodingback.

Speaker 1 (04:15):
And those positive emotions?
They have a ripple effect,don't they?
They influence our mood, ourenergy levels, even our
well-being.

Speaker 2 (04:22):
It's like a mental vacation.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
I love that.
And speaking of adventures,Penrose also has a prompt about
a fun or unexpected adventureyou had this year.
I'm thinking back to when Imentioned a specific adventure
from listeners' material.
Now that brings a smile to myface.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
Makes me think of mentioning an example.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
And it doesn't have to be some grand expedition to
be memorable, right.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
Right, it's not about the scale, it's about the shift
in perspective, even somethingsmall that injects a little
novelty into your day.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
Just shaking things up a bit.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Exactly, and those little detours can have a
surprisingly profound impact.
They remind us to embracespontaneity, to be open to new
possibilities to appreciate thebeauty of the unexpected.
I like that, the beauty of theunexpected.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Okay, now get ready to go even deeper, because we're
moving into personal growth andself-reflection.
Penrose asks how have youchanged or grown as a person
this year?
Such a powerful question.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
It is because it's so easy to keep moving forward
without really acknowledging howfar we've come.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
We don't always stop to smell the roses.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, and it's like pausing to admire the view after
a challenging climb.
You've put in the effort,you've faced obstacles, you've
learned and adapted along theway.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
And by recognizing that growth.
It's not just about pattingyourself on the back.
It's about gaining a deeperunderstanding of your strengths
and weaknesses.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
So true that self-awareness is essential for
making conscious choices,choices that align with our
values and aspirations.

Speaker 1 (05:48):
It's like taking inventory of your internal
toolkit, making sure you havethe right tools for the journey
ahead.
And there's another prompt inthis section that I find really
intriguing what new perspectivesor beliefs did?

Speaker 2 (06:04):
you develop this year .
How have they influenced youractions and decisions?
Because our beliefs, they shapeso much of our reality.
It's incredible how they evolveover time.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
It really is, I mean think about it.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
It's a testament to the amazing plasticity of the
human brain.
We're constantly taking in newinformation, encountering new
viewpoints.

Speaker 1 (06:17):
And reevaluating our understanding of the world.

Speaker 2 (06:20):
Exactly, and sometimes those shifts in
perspective can be subtle like agradual opening to new ideas.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
A softening of those rigid beliefs we sometimes hold
on to.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
But other times it can feel like a seismic shift,
completely changing thelandscape of our thinking.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
Wow, that's a great way to put it.
Okay, so, speaking of change,let's shift our focus to the
future.
Arguably the most exciting part.
Penrose dedicates an entiresection to looking ahead to the
future.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
I like where this is going.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
Me too, and she doesn't disappoint with the
prompts.
First up, she asks for your topthree goals for the next year.
But here's the key how do youplan to achieve them?

Speaker 2 (07:00):
Ah, so it's not enough to just dream big.
We need a roadmap.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
Exactly, gotta have a plan.

Speaker 2 (07:04):
Think of your goals as destinations on a map.
You need to know where you'reheaded, but you also need to
plot your course.

Speaker 1 (07:10):
Identify those potential obstacles, pack the
necessary supplies.

Speaker 2 (07:14):
By outlining your plan, you're not just increasing
your chances of success, you'realso strengthening your
commitment to those goals Likeyou're saying I'm serious about
this and I'm willing to put inthe work.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
Okay, so now to really ignite those dreams.
Penrose encourages us to thinkabout our dreams and aspirations
.
No limits here.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
This is where we let our imaginations run wild.

Speaker 1 (07:34):
Exactly envisioning the life we truly desire
aspirations no limits here.
This is where we let ourimaginations run wild Exactly
Envisioning the life we trulydesire.

Speaker 2 (07:38):
It's about connecting with our deepest desires, those
things that light us up fromthe inside out.

Speaker 1 (07:44):
And those dreams might seem daunting at first.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
But remember, every journey begins with a single
step.

Speaker 1 (07:50):
Breaking those big aspirations down into smaller,
actionable steps.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
That's how we create a pathway towards those
seemingly impossible dreams.

Speaker 1 (07:59):
Love that.
And speaking of pathways,Penrose also prompts us to
consider what new skills orknowledge do you want to acquire
next year?
How will they benefit you?

Speaker 2 (08:08):
It's about investing in our future, selves equipping
ourselves with the tools andknowledge to navigate the path
ahead.

Speaker 1 (08:14):
It's like leveling up in the game of life.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
I like that analogy.

Speaker 1 (08:18):
Right, because we're constantly evolving, facing new
challenges.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
And pursuing new opportunities.

Speaker 1 (08:22):
By actively seeking out new skills and knowledge.

Speaker 2 (08:24):
We're expanding our capacity to adapt, to innovate.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
To create the life we desire.

Speaker 2 (08:28):
It's a lifelong journey of learning and growth.

Speaker 1 (08:31):
And it's not all about solo missions either.
Penrose reminds us to thinkabout the relationships we want
to nurture or develop.

Speaker 2 (08:38):
Ah yes, because humans are social creatures, we
thrive on connection.

Speaker 1 (08:43):
Whether it's with family, friends, romantic
partners, colleagues, thosebonds.
They bring so much richness andmeaning to our lives.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
It's about investing in the connections that bring us
joy, support, a sense ofbelonging.

Speaker 1 (08:55):
Deepening existing relationships or even
cultivating new ones.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
Nurturing those social connections is essential
for a fulfilling life.

Speaker 1 (09:03):
It's like building a network of support, a tribe of
people who inspire us.

Speaker 2 (09:06):
Who challenge us and celebrate our journey.
It's like building your ownpersonal board of directors.

Speaker 1 (09:12):
I like that, and you know what else really resonated
with me in this section.
It's the last prompt.
Penrose asks how will youprioritize self-care and
well-being in the coming year?
What practices will youincorporate into your routine?
Ah yes, self-care.
It's so easy to let that slipwhen things get busy, but it's
so important.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
Absolutely crucial for our mental, emotional and
physical health.

Speaker 1 (09:32):
We got to take care of ourselves.

Speaker 2 (09:33):
It's like making sure your car has enough fuel.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
And you know, gets regular maintenance.

Speaker 1 (09:38):
You wouldn't expect it to run smoothly without
taking care of it, right?

Speaker 2 (09:41):
Right.
So why do we expect our mindsand bodies to just keep going
without giving them the samelevel of care and attention?

Speaker 1 (09:48):
And it doesn't have to be complicated.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
No, just find small ways to nourish yourself,
whether it's exercise, spendingtime in nature, practicing
mindfulness or even just takinga few minutes each day to
disconnect and recharge.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
I love that.
Just hit the reset button.
So, as we wrap up our deep diveinto these 50 end of year
journal prompts, what'sresonating with you the most
right now?

Speaker 2 (10:11):
That's a good question.
I think what's reallyfascinating is that each prompt
acts like a different lens,offering a unique perspective on
your experiences.

Speaker 1 (10:20):
You know it's like holding up a mirror to different
parts of your year.

Speaker 2 (10:23):
Have you discovered a connection between a past
achievement and a future goal?
Or maybe a challenge you facedhas sparked a desire to learn a
new skill?

Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, it's not just about answering the prompts in
isolation.
It's about the connections youmake between them, the insights
that emerge as you reflect onthe year as a whole.

Speaker 2 (10:40):
It's like piecing together a puzzle.

Speaker 1 (10:42):
Revealing a clearer picture of who you are, where
you've been and where you wantto go.

Speaker 2 (10:47):
And remember these prompts are just the starting
point.
Let your curiosity lead the way.
Explore different angles andsee where your thoughts take you
.

Speaker 1 (10:56):
That's the beauty of journaling, isn't it?

Speaker 2 (10:58):
The real magic happens when you allow yourself
to be surprised by what comes up.

Speaker 1 (11:02):
So grab your journal, a cozy spot, and dive into
these prompts.
Who knows, you might justuncover some hidden gems about
yourself and emerge with arenewed sense of purpose as you
step into the new year.

Speaker 2 (11:14):
Happy writing everyone.
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