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This year our Peace is Power community has been "Dealing with Endings". Endings are some of the most difficult circumstances we will have to process and yet we don’t talk about them as much as we should. However, there’s one ending we always talk about and that’s the end of one year and the beginning of another. So, I felt it only right to write about ending 2022 and looking towards 2023. As we have navigated the last three years, I think we have moved away from catchy cliches about the new year and instead turned more towards a more balanced optimism. Gone are the days where we acted as if the strike of midnight would erase all of our worries and woes. Many of us know now that we will carry much of 2022 into 2023. But please don’t stop reading - this won’t be a blog full of doom and gloom. I want us to move into the new year empowered with more self-awareness and, of course, leaning into our peace. So how can we do that? Of course, as I always say, I don’t have all the answers. In fact, this blog will have more questions than answers.
1. Start by celebrating your wins!!! No, really…acknowledge and celebrate your wins. I don’t know how you define win but I would say that even in the darkest and most challenging of years we all can find at least one thing that has gone well. For some, making it to the end of 2022 is a win! Sometimes when the losses feel more loud than the wins they can be hard to identify. You may even find it necessary to call a trusted friend or accountability partner that knows you well to have them help you think through the wins they noticed in you over the last year.
2. Reflect, Ask Yourself the Hard Questions, and Make a Plan to Move forward. I wanted to share some questions that have been helpful to me. Some of these questions may be more emotionally challenging than others so I’ll place a gentle reminder here that you don’t have to engage in this work alone. Connect with a trusted friend, process with a trained counselor/therapist, and you may even wish to discuss this with your spiritual leader.
What were you really proud of that happened in 2022?
What would you like to start in 2023?
What would you like to say yes to in 2023?
What do you need to say “no” to in 2023 in order to be your most healthy self?
How will you be intentional in building community in 2023?
What’s something fun you want to try in 2023?
Who will be your accountability partner(s) in 2023?
What will your wellness plan be for 2023?
What are at least three things you will do to improve your spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental health in 2023?
What will your affirmation be for 2023?
What’s a word that describes how you want to move through 2023? (Y’all know mine is peace!)
I hope that as you answer these questions you will gain insight that will be helpful as you move into the new year. We have no idea what 2023 will bring. My prayer for us all is that no matter what we will face, we will be grounded in true peace. That will be our power.
Happy New Year Y’all!
Stay connected and updated through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Also, be sure to check out my website at www.draventharris.com.
Disclaimer: These blog posts are based on my personal opinions, reflections, and insights are not intended to be taken as professional therapeutic intervention(s) and/or advice. Further, please note these blogs are not intended to serve as and/or replace formal counseling services. If you are in need or interested in taking part in direct therapeutic services, please contact your insurance provider’s customer service for assistance. You may also consult website such as (but not limited to) Psychology Today and Therapy for Black Girls to find a therapist.