25 Reflection Questions That Will Transform Your Year

These 25 reflection questions will help you evaluate what happened this year and set intentional direction for what comes next. Real insights start here.

Reflection Questions That Will Transform You

The end of the year is upon us and traditionally this is the time of year that people think about a fresh start and new beginnings. Loosing loved ones young and old this year has shifted my thoughts and priorities. Things, possessions, and goals that in the past seemed important to me are not any longer. Add in aging and accumulated wisdom and lessons that come with it and I am looking at the new year with fresh eyes and asking myself 25 Reflection Questions for the New Year.

What are Reflection Questions?

Reflection questions are questions that allow you to self-reflect on your life. They help you to sit with your own thoughts to examine your, feelings and attitude about life, relationships, your job, goals and the past, present and the future. There is no right or wrong answer, they are a reflection of you, your life and your feelings, no one else’s.

The start of a new year is a blank page and a great time to look at key areas of your life and see what you want to change. That said, everyday is a great day for starting over if that is what you want.

Why Reflection Questions Matter More Than Resolutions

Most people skip straight to goal setting without understanding what the past year taught them. Resolutions feel exciting, but they rarely stick. Reflection questions give you the real and often times raw material you need to set goals that actually match who you are right now and what you learned over the past year(s).

The process of answering questions forces you to slow down and think. You start to see what energized you versus what drained you. You notice which relationships added value and which ones took more than they gave. You recognize the habits that moved you forward towards your goals and the ones that kept you right where you are.

This kind of clarity does not happen automatically. Your brain is wired to move forward, not to sit and to analyze. Reflection questions give you the time and the space for an honest evaluation of your thoughts, feelings and goals. That evaluation becomes the foundation for smarter decisions in the year ahead.

How to Use the Reflection Questions

The best way to use reflective questions is to just start.

• Set aside dedicated time where you will not be interrupted. This is not something you can do well in five minute chunks between other tasks.
• Choose a quiet space where you can think without distractions. Some people prefer journaling at a coffee shop, while others need complete solitude at home.
• Write down your answers, writing forces clarity. It helps you process your thoughts and feelings. You also create a record you can come back to later.
• Be honest. These answers are for you, not for social media or anyone else. The value comes from real honesty, even when it is uncomfortable. If you had a terrible year in some areas, acknowledge that. If you made poor choices, own them. Sugarcoating your answers defeats the purpose of reflection and doesn’t help you in any way.
• Take your time. Return to questions that feel difficult. The ones you want to skip are often the most revealing.
• Practice self-compassion. Reflection is about observation, not self-criticism.
• Be specific, answer in complete thoughts not one word answers.
• We all have lofty goals but it is important to set realistic goals. Once you answer the questions, let the list sit for a few days and revisit it. Reviewing the question with fresh eyes may give you new insight.
• Seek outside help and guidance if needed, from a life coach or a therapist.

You can answer all of the 25 questions, or pick and choose a few to answer. If you don’t like these questions, make your own list.

Keep the list and the answers in your notebook, journal or agenda. Look back and them every few weeks over the course of the next year to see if your are on track to meet your goals.

If an old fashioned pen and paper are not your thing try one of these 15 journaling apps. 

25 Reflection Questions to Help Guide You in the New Year

There are an infinite number of questions that you could ask yourself about your health, relationships, work, school, finances, goals, etc.

These are the 25 questions that I wrote in my journal to reflect on this week and to use a a guide as I write my goals for the year. Your questions may or may not be similar to mine and that is what makes us unique. If nothing else these questions could be used as a starting point for you or as journal prompts for th new year.

Remember this, small steps and positive changes lead to good things, new skills, a new habit and personal growth. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

My 25 Reflection Questions

1. What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do more of that?

2. What would you try if you knew that you could not fail?

3. What would you like your triumph to be by the end of this year?

4. What class or skill would you like to take or learn this year?

5. How would you like your life to change this year?

6. What does success look like for you in the upcoming year and how do you need to redefine your definition of success?

7. What creative projects do you want to work on this year?

8. What is your single biggest challenge in making this year “off the charts” in your eyes? What are you committed to doing to overcome this challenge?

9. What preventative health measures would you like to incorporate into your daily life?

10. What types of food would you like to incorporate more of in your life this year?

11.  How would you like to spend your free time?

12. Who are the people in your life that you would like to spend more time with? Are you looking for a new relationship? Friendship?

13. What’s most valuable in your life right now?

14. Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change this year?

15. What gift would you like to give yourself this year? The gift of more free time or more quiet time?

16. What are you going to do outside of your comfort zone this year?

17. What do you want to let go of that doesn’t serve you?

18. What are you most excited about for the upcoming year? New Experiences? Adventures? New things?

19.What do you promise yourself that you will absolutely do this year?

20. What is the best thing that happened in the last year? Write down a few of your favourite moments, good memories and biggest accomplishment.

21. What was your biggest personal change of the last year?

22. In what ways did you grow? Spiritually? Emotionally? Physically?

23. What was your biggest win this past year? What were you most proud of accomplishing?

24. What was the most challenging part of your work? And the most enjoyable?

25. What would you have done differently this past year?

These 25 questions are only valuable if you actually use them. Make time this week to sit down and answer them honestly. The insights you gain from this will shape your decisions for months and maybe even years to come. Reflection is not about dwelling on the past, it is about using what happened to move forward with clarity and intention. Your year and your goals are worth examining. Start today!

Until Next Time

Reflection questions have become one of my non-negotiables at the start of the new year. They force me to slow down and process what happened instead of just racing into the next year. Some years the answers are uncomfortable, but that discomfort always leads to better decisions for the future. This year is no different.

How do you start the New Year? With resolutions? Reflection questions? Or a word of the year?

Thank you for spending not only today with me but this year. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to be here.

You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. And last but not least, if you like Pinecones & Acorns share it with a friend!

This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

On My Radar