New Year, Who Dis? w/ Daniel Kanzandian
What
1. Recall - Bring the year to mind.
Bring the year to mind. Create memory artifacts that remind you of what happened in the last year.
- What music did you listen to this year? (e.g. use the Spotify wrapped feature, or Apple Music replay)
- What photos did you take? (e.g. iPhone or Android “Year in review” feature)
- What books did you read?
- What courses did you take?
- What were your favourite articles, tweets or threads?
- What were your favourite memories?
- Who did you make friends with?
- What were your favourite memes?
- What were your favourite journal entries?
- List workshop.new-year.month-of-the-year. For each of them, write 1 to 3 bullet points for any defining events that took place within them.
2. Reflect - Synthesize insights.
In this step we’ll go a bit deeper. Start synthesizing insights and connections by contemplating the events you brought to mind in Step 1.
- Review your goals for the year (if you have them) and write a 1 sentence summary for the status each.
- What kind of media did you wish you consumed less of?
- What kind of media do you wish you consumed more of?
- What were your biggest disappointments of the year?
- What were your top 3 wins this year?
- Who influenced your life the most (positive or negative)?
- In what areas do you need to forgive yourself?
- Who did you kinda neglect this year? (e.g. my mom)
- What are you most ashamed of from this year?
- What made you cry this year?
- What are some events from the year that you might need to process in the future? List them down.
- What were your biggest risks from this year?
- What beliefs guided your behavior the most this year?
- Give yourself a 1/10 rating for how satisfied you are with workshop.new-year.areas-audit.
- What areas of your life did you neglect the most this year?
3. Release - Forgive and let go.
Identify emotionally juicy experiences, events and patterns from the year. Practice letting go of them.
Write down everything you want to let go of on a piece of paper and light it on fire, ceremonially. Write down what you’re most ashamed of from the year on a piece of paper and light it on fire, ceremonially. Text a loving message to 3 people who are A) important to you and B) that you feel need to make amends to. Send a gratitude text to 3 people who you have quiet, under-expressed appreciation for. Let them know they matter to you. Listen to a sad song while reviewing the things that made you cry this year.
Pause. Take a break. Do something completely different for at least 30mins or at most a whole day. Come back to Step 4 with a fresh mind.
4. Resolve - Make wise intentions for 2022.
Based on your insights and reflections, articulate meaningful intentions for your future.
- What advice would you give yourself for the next year?
- What’s one habit of yours you would instantly “delete” if you could?
- Make a template.commitment based on the insights above.
- What Projects would you like to start? List their ideal outcomes and next actions.
- What habits would you like to install in the coming year?
- What word would you like to guide you throughout the coming year? Tweet it.
- What affirmations would you like to keep in mind throughout the coming year?
- It’s rare that you will make major progress in several categories at the same time. Major progress in any category requires significant attention. What are 1-3 areas of your life that you want to focus most on in 2022?
- Who would you like to keep you accountable in 2022? Text them with a request.
- What do you want to happen next year in each of workshop.new-year.areas-audit of your life?
Why
Cuz the unexamined life is not worth living. Also know thyself
- Socrates
The Fresh Start Effect: Temporal Landmarks Motivate Aspirational Behavior. People are more likely to tackle their goals immediately following salient temporal landmarks.