Taking time to reflect on the past can be an opportunity for celebration!

1. Start with a positive. What was good about this past year?
2. What did you learn about yourself this past year?
3. Were you blessed that something that could have been bad, actually became a rewarding experience?
4. Was there anything that happened in your life that would not have been possible before?
5. Now, let's look at growth opportunities. If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently and why?
6. What things or strategies worked for you that you can continue to build upon in the coming year?
7. Who do you appreciate for having supported your efforts last year? And who did you support and make a difference for?

Don't rush through this exercise. Repeat these questions to yourself a few times until you feel that lump of gratitude in your throat. For if you realized opportunities for growth this past year, it can lead you in the path of building a strong foundation for you in the new year. If there weren't a lot of positives for you this past year, don't allow regret or resentment to consume your thoughts. Acknowledge that you can start anew and create positive experiences by learning from the past.

Endings don't always have to do with calendar years. An ending can be something related to a job, a relationship, or even the death of a loved one. These endings don't seem like opportunities to celebrate. These endings can be devastating and scary. But consider this question of yourself, how fortunate were you to have had something that was so wonderful that it makes saying goodbye so hard? Regardless of what is ending in your life, what feels like the end is often the beginning of something new and exciting. We just haven't realized it yet! Yes, the end of something meaningful can be scary. There is something scarier, allowing fear to stop you from growing, transforming, and progressing through life.

Life has a way of correcting our course. Accepting that change is needed will help you adapt to the correction. Here's some things you can focus on to help you adapt to a new beginning...

• Let go of the things you cannot control - Positive things happen in your life when you emotionally distance yourself from the negative things. Stop holding on to what hurts and make room for what feels right.
• Change your mind - The first step toward positive change is to change your outlook. Mindset is everything!
• Growth is impossible without change. If you cannot change and adapt, you will not grow. Sometimes all you need to do is look at things from a different perspective.
• Rest and regroup - Sometimes you fail. Strength is about choosing your path, living with the consequences, and learning from them. Again, don't be afraid to fail. Appreciate what you have learned and regroup.
• Take chances - Trying something new or different can be scary. Eliminate regret. Face your fears head on.
• Keep climbing - We don't fall from the sky to the top of a mountain. We must climb. You gain confidence and grow stronger by every experience in which you truly push yourself to do something you didn't think you could do.

How are you going to achieve success for the coming year? What does your commitment to yourself look like? What steps will you have to take to ensure you have a plan to be successful? To ensure you continue the path of a new beginning, be sure to read our blogs over the next few months of this year that will help you focus on the strategies you need to find success throughout the year. Here's a sneak peek at our upcoming articles:

January - We focus on a new beginning and welcoming change

February - It all starts with your mindset and developing a lion's mentality

March - Having vision and a prepared mind

April - Setting realistic goals and having confidence to see them to fruition

May - Develop discipline to keep your commitment to success

This should be an exciting opportunity for growth over the next few months. To continue next week, we'll shift from celebrating endings to preparing for new beginnings and what that means to your path to growth.