REFLECTION: HOW TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GOOD AND BAD

Every year is full of memorable moments. Yours may have been full of both successes and setbacks. For every low, there was a high. Life is naturally made up of peaks and troughs. So, how do you learn how to appreciate both?

Look Inside: We think of goals being external, but that's not always the case. You may have done some internal work this year that you aren't even aware of. Did you develop into a more resilient person? Did you learn patience? Change can be powerfully subtle.

Invisible Wins: Not all goals are measurable. When you overcome a difficult situation with grace or bear the brunt of a few difficult days or months - these are also wins to be grateful for. Maybe your goal was just to survive this year or let go of things that didn't serve you. Even if that goal isn't tangible, you can still feel the difference. Applaud yourself for your quiet strengths.

Not All Success Is Linear: You may have tried something this year that succeeded and then failed. This doesn't just apply to goals like starting a business or getting into a relationship. This could be something like healing from a traumatic situation or becoming a different version of you. Even if you take a step backwards, you can always find your footing. What matters is that you are taking steps in the right direction.

Celebrating The Highs & Lows: It's easy to embrace the best moments of the year but they are inextricably defined by the low moments. Even through the strife, one can still come out the other side having gained something, whether that is a stronger sense of self or merely a different perspective on life. 

Take It or Leave It: Now that it's the end of the year, it's the time to evaluate what you are taking into the new year - and what you are leaving behind. The situations that you were in this year have shaped you and prepared you for the future. You can extract knowledge and experience from the bad and turn it into something that motivates you. 

Reframe The Bad Things: Even if you feel like there is no good that came out of a situation, there may be something there worth appreciating. This one is easier said than done and takes a lot of practice. You must actively take notice of and appreciate the little things you are afforded like your health, your wealth, something as small as a peaceful morning before everyone else rises. This habit makes the bigger things feel more impactful too.

Though this year was unmatched in its balance of both difficulties and joy, you can find a way to still feel gratitude for it all. Gratitude is not a solipsistic emotion - it's being realistic about the fact that bad things can and do happen while acknowledging that there will always be things to be appreciative about. You just have to look for them.

Sources:

Vocal.Media “The Year That Slipped Through Our Fingers: Reflections as 2025 Fades Away” via Shahab Khan