Reflecting on the 2024: Celebrating Growth & Lessons Learned

As we stumble into the new year, I like to take a moment to reflect on the past year's achievements, both personal and professional. This exercise helps me appreciate how far I've come and identify areas for continued growth – or, you know, just not losing my mind. I often do this with my clients around their birthdays, but the start of a new year serves as a perfect marker for reflection, and also a great excuse to help you think about your year.

One of my biggest accomplishments this year was taking control of my finances. I discovered a valuable online resource, Her First $100K, which provided a solid foundation for understanding my finances, investing, and scrutinizing my bills. This newfound diligence helped me identify and remove hundreds of dollars in unnecessary charges, subscriptions, and accidental fees. Regular "date nights" with myself to review my expenses proved to be a game-changer – who needs human interaction when you can spend Friday nights with Excel?

Another significant change for me was prioritizing quality time with my son. As a result of building a flexible private practice, I was able to create lasting memories with him through travel and adventures. Being present and engaged with my child has been an invaluable experience – and also a great way to slow down and connect.

I also made a conscious effort to improve my physical health. While it was easier to stick to my goals at the beginning of the year, I managed to establish healthy habits like daily walks, increased water intake, and a balanced diet with more protein. These small changes have made a significant impact on my overall well-being.

Throughout the year, I gained a better understanding of my patterns and habits, particularly those related to people-pleasing. Recognizing these tendencies has allowed me to make conscious choices about how I want to live my life and create a more peaceful home environment. Friendly reminder - YOU DO NOT NEED APPROVAL FROM OTHERS to live how you choose. Live authentically and free - it’s the best gift to give to yourself.

I've had the privilege of niching down my private practice to work with a population that deeply resonates with me. My clients inspire me every day with their vulnerability, resilience, and determination to grow. Witnessing their transformations and being a part of their journey is a true honor. I have the utmost respect for their hard work and commitment to becoming the best version of themselves, not just for their own sake, but for their loved ones as well. Cheers to my incredible clients - you are the reason I do what I do!

Finally, I took a significant step towards furthering my education by applying to a local PhD program. While I'm still awaiting the outcome, the process of learning and growth has been incredibly therapeutic and fulfilling – and also a great excuse to buy more books and highlighters.

As I look back on the past year, I'm reminded that growth is a continuous process – and also that I'm not perfect, but I'm working on it. By acknowledging our achievements and lessons learned, we can build on our successes and create a stronger foundation for the year ahead.

So grab a pen and write down some of your accomplishments from this year - big or small - a win's a win!