What is the year-end tradition in your country?
While Christmas plays a main event of December in many countries, the custom to spend December in Japan is a bit different.
Two of the main tradition are:
Bounenkai, the party to forget the unpleasant event or trouble that we had in the past year, drink over it, and welcome a new year with a fresh positive mindset.
Osouji, the big cleaning of household and/or your workplace to welcome “Toshigami,” Shinto deity of the New Year who brings health and good luck and also to purify our mind to welcome new year with clean environment.
The idea in common of these activities are not to drag unpleasant feeling and mess of the past year to the coming year, but to purify it and welcome the new year with fresh and positive mindset.
Today, I will share 10 questions to help you reflect on 2021 in order not to leave the things unsolved but to analyze it and purify your mind for welcoming the new year, 2022.
1. If you describe your past year in 3 words, what would it be?
2. What are you the most proud of this year ?
3. What did you leave unaccomplished?
4. When did you feel inspired, excited or energized this year?
5. When did you feel at lowest this year and why?
6. How are you a better you than you were at the beginning of the past year?
7. Which milestone did you reach?
8. What was the most important lesson you learned this year?
9. What would you do differently if you could?
10. Looking at all the answers above, what are the things you want to try in the coming year?
…now, you are proud of yourself? Disappointed? Thinking what to do for the next?
Although the year end is always a busy time to get together with people, if you could sit down with your favorite hot drink and take a little bit of time JUST FOR YOURSELF, it makes a big difference in your mindset to welcome the new year.
Hope above questions will be of your help : )
Cheers to your accomplishment, courage, endeavor in 2021 and Happy holidays everyone!
