Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Are you ready to go beyond surface level reflection to move past the usual resolutions and Instagram and Pinterest worthy intentions and really uncover what's been holding you back and what you actually need to step into the best version of yourself.
[00:00:22] Hi everyone, welcome or welcome back to Shooter her podcast. I'm your host Kena Shache, and today we're digging deep, asking ourselves the questions that really matter so that you can connect with the version of yourself that'll make next year your best year. As we close out the year, it's a time to pause and reflect. But not on who the world told you to be, but on who you truly are and who you're becoming. In today's episode, we're diving into an honest end of the year reflection, specifically for women who are ready to stop people pleasing, settling and living inauthentic. We'll explore the lessons you've learned, the growth you've made, and most importantly, the moments you weren't true to yourself so you can set a powerful foundation for the year ahead. Grab a notebook, your favorite pen, a cozy drink, and take this time for you. And if you want to go even deeper, check out the guided End of year reflection video on YouTube. If you're watching this podcast episode in real time, the video will be out on Wednesday. If you're not, the video is already out at you to her podcast, offering a peaceful space for you to sit with your thoughts. Let's reflect, reset and step into the new year with intention. Now let's get into this podcast episode. This time of the year can feel chaotic. Holiday plans, wrapping up work, and the pressure to start January 1st with everything figured out. But before we rush into New Year New Me, let's take a step back. Reflection is such an underrated tool, but in order to make real change, you have to understand where you've been and what patterns and habits you're carrying into the next year. And for those of us that have spent a lot of time people pleasing this Reflection is more than just checking off goals. It's about reclaiming your power and getting true to yourself. Now let's move through the reflection categories together, pausing to ask the tough questions that'll give you clarity for the year ahead. Here's a breakdown of what this is going to look like. All together, there are six categories. I'm going to explain a little bit about them, why I've chosen them, and why they're essential for your reflection. And then I'm going to give you five to six journal prompts to go along with each category. The first category is Personal Growth, where we celebrate wins and reflect on this year's lessons. First, we're going to start with what went well this year, and I know you're not used to talking about your accomplishments or you like to downplay them, but today we we're not doing that. No matter how big or small, you have to celebrate them. Also in this section, I want you to think about the lessons, especially the ones that came from mistakes. Instead of beating yourself up or not wanting to face it, ask yourself, what did this experience teach me? How did it make me stronger? I promise you, the best growth happens in the messy parts of life, and these are the things you want to reflect on for the year ahead. Here are the journal prompts for this category. Number one what are you most proud of achieving this year? Number two in what ways have you grown as a person? Number 3 what fears or doubts did you overcome? Number 4 what habits or beliefs held you back from fully thriving? And number five how did you prioritize your mental and emotional well being this year? And yes, the categories and general prompts will be in the description. I'll also have them up on Instagram TikTok wherever you watch True to Her podcast and you can check out the link in my bio for a downloadable copy. The second category is Relationships, your relationships and connections. The focus of this category is to help you identify who pours into you and who drains you. It's asking yourself, who were the people you felt most alive around? Who made you feel small and unseen and taken advantage of? You don't have to keep every relationship because it feels familiar, and this section gives you the opportunity to be more intentional with that when you start setting your attention to the new year. And here are the journal prompts to help you evaluate your connections and how they impact your life. Number one which relationships nurtured you this year and why? Number two Were there any relationships that drained or harmed you? Number three where did you feel truly seen and supported? Number four did you set boundaries in your relationships? If not, what stopped you? And number five are there people in your life you need to distance yourself from in the coming year? If you listen to previous episodes, then you know that letting go is probably one of the biggest challenges that I face because I'm so understanding and empathetic and it'd be hard for me to let go. But this past year has been all about the realization that not everybody can go with us and if we want to make change and really become that desired version of ourselves we have to let people, places and things go that do not serve our greatest purpose. And that's what this section was about for me. Category number three is career and purpose. In this section you're going to reflect on your work, life, ambitions and alignment with your purpose. This is important because a lot of the times our jobs and not living in purpose is part of the reason why we stay stuck in habits, patterns, environments that no longer serve us. When you're unfulfilled in one area of your life, it's easy to think that there's no way out because that's all you know. And that's just simply not true. At any moment you could wake up and choose different. And aligning with your purpose helps you cut out everything that is a distraction from it. Here are the general prompts. Number one, did your career or work bring you joy or fulfillment? Why or why not? Number two were the moments you hesitated to advocate for yourself at work. Number three, what's one step you took towards aligning with your purpose? Number four, how communicate more balance between your work and your personal life moving forward. And number five, are you pursuing goals that are meaningful to you or goals imposed by others? Out of this section specifically, because I recognize the correlation between being unfulfilled in relationships and being unfulfilled at work. I feel as though when we are so used to putting other people first, that doesn't just stop in relationships. It also carries over into our jobs and our work and our careers and what we want for ourselves. I want you to reflect on that this year. I did the craziest thing. I quit my stable, reliable career. But I knew that it wasn't in alignment for me. Now is that the case for you? Probably not. But I still want you to reflect on it and make sure that you're living in purpose. This so that all pieces of your life come together and not just bits and pieces. In some areas you're fulfilled and in some areas you're not. No, you deserve it all. The next category is self worth and authenticity. I want you to think about the times you were most yourself this year. These are the moments that show you what alignment looks like. What were you doing, who were you with? And how can you create more of these experiences? The more time you spend in alignment, the less time you waste on things that don't serve you. We have to reflect on our self worth in this section as well as authenticity because we have to know what it is that we need to leave and what it is that we need to bring or learn or cultivate in the new year. So here are the journal prompts that go with this category. Number one, where were your happiest, most fulfilling moments this year? Number two, where did you feel most confident and in your power this year? Number three, how often did you compare yourself to others and how did that affect you? Number four, Were there moments where you stayed quiet to keep the peace or please others? Number five. Did you express your true desires, needs or boundaries this year? Why or why not? And number six, how can you show yourself more love and respect in the new year? If you're asking me this one and the next one. Top two most important categories of them all. Category five is all about the moments you weren't true to yourself. This one might feel a little uncomfortable, but it's so important. You have to know the moments. You ignored intuition, betrayed yourself, said yes to something you did not want to do, or stayed quiet when you wanted to speak up. It's in those moments that show you where you're still holding back. It's not about judgment, it's about awareness so that next year can really be your year. You cannot change what you do not acknowledge. Here are the journal prompts to go along with this category. Number one, Try to recall a moment where you ignored your intuition to please somebody else. Number two what decisions did you make based on others expectations rather than your own? Number three, where did you strength yourself to fit into someone else's mold? Number four, how did it feel when you betrayed yourself and what were the consequences? And number five, what would you have done differently if you prioritize your own needs? Categories 4 and 5 are near and dear to my heart. Obviously you're listening to True to Her podcast. So everything that I'm about and encouraging you to do is to get one step closer to your true authentic self so that you become just a powerful woman. Like you're that bitch if you will. You know your worth. Nobody can't play with you. You're not settling your relationships. You're chasing fulfillment and not just comfort your past that you want what's yours and you're coming to take it. That's why the last two categories are my personal favorites. All of them are important, right? We want to reflect on the things that went well. Obviously it's important to reflect on relationships and that helps us become truer versions of ourselves and our relationships. Romantic or platonic. But the first step is always with yourself, accepting yourself. But the keyword itself, it starts here. Nobody can't give you what you need it's already in you. And one of my biggest goals for 2025 is helping you realize your worth. Because baby, you've been worth it and you will forever be worth it. Like I hope nobody told you otherwise. I know for a fact nobody better not had told you otherwise. I'll fight them for you. What they talking about? They ain't talking about nothing. But let's talk about the final and last category which is self care and fulfillment. You have to reflect on the moments that you did take care of yourself. Obviously we know and we've heard a million times that self care isn't bubble baths and face mask. It's saying no creating space for what truly matters. And in this section I want you to focus on the ways in which you grew emotionally, mentally and spiritually and talk a little bit about what you want more of in this area. So the general prompts for this section include Number one what were the happiest moments of this year? Number two what activities, people or places made you feel most alive? Number three Were you able to find joy in the everyday moments? Number four what would you like to bring more of into your life next year? Number five what's one thing you did this year that felt like true self care? And number six how can you cultivate more joy and fulfillment into your everyday life? As you go through these reflections, pay attention to the themes and patterns that keep coming up, like what you're ready to let go of and what you want to embrace moving forward. Next episode we'll take these insights and turn them into intentions for the next year. There is no around. You're stepping into 2025 with clarity and purpose. Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of True to Her Podcast. I hope that these prompts and the six categories mentioned in the episode really help you to reflect on who you've been so that we can dismantle that together. Break all that up. I promise you I want nothing more then to help you do that so that you can become the best, most authentic, empowered, most confident version of yourself moving forward. Don't forget that there will be a downloadable link in the description if you're watching this in real time. There will be. I got a video coming out on Wednesday to give you space to complete this reflection. And if you are not watching this real time, it's most likely already out. So go check it out. Share this with a friend who you know might need this. Leave a review if you feel a call to and make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast on all platforms. Get ready to set intentions in the next episode. I can't wait to dive deeper into this. But for now, I'll see you in the next episode.
