Many of us will go from the bustle of the Holidays and step straight into a New Year. Sometimes we don’t take the time to reflect and take an inventory, but it’s an important part of each year’s transition.

By taking a positive inventory we can save ourselves from repeating the same stressors and patterns. We can enter the New Year with strength and the joy and courage that comes from our accomplishments.

Reflect on a few of the following questions below. Take some time in the morning, before bed, or on a coffee break to write or reflect on your answers.

Or make it an event! Invite a friend or friends over and answer the questions together. Share your answers and your wisdom.

I’ve split the list up into a few categories (in no particular order) Choose what resonates with you. It’s your life. Have fun! Here we go!

The Positive Inventory Questionnaire

Personal Growth:

1. What’s my greatest accomplishment?
2. What am I most proud of last year?
3. What did I learn from this accomplishment?
4. What was my greatest struggle last year?
5. What did this struggle reveal and teach me about myself?
6. What habit would I like to decrease?
7. What habit would I like to flourish?
8. How did I spend my free time last year? How would I like to spend my free time this New Year?
9. How did I order these priorities last year? (Career, Relationships, Faith, Health, Service, Environment)
10. How would I like to see the order this New Year?
11. What advice would I give to others based on what I learned last year?
12. If I could go back in time and talk to myself at the beginning of 2014 what would I tell myself?
13. What are my highest values? Am I being true to them?
14. If I only had this year to live what would I do? What would be different?
15. What’s one situation that required me to be courageous last year?
16. In what ways will that courage assist me this year?
17. What are some limiting beliefs I noticed in myself last year?
18. How can I start to overcome these beliefs? (Noticing their existence is a huge first step)
19. Is there a secret you’ve kept that has caused personal damage?
20. Can you share this secret with someone safe?
21. Have you ever thought about seeing a therapist? What’s stopping you?*

*Check out How to Find a Therapist You Love

Relationships

1. What person made the biggest impact on me last year?
2. Tip: (If this person is negative, write a letter to them that you’ll never send. If it’s a positive impact, write a gratitude letter and send them your thanks.)
3. Who would I like to spend more time with this year?
4. Is there someone I’d like to have better boundaries with?
5. Is there anyone I’d like to distance or cut out of my life?
6. What was the biggest conflict I had last year?
7. How would I approach this conflict today?
8. What’s one thing I can do for my community?
9. Do my friendships rock my world? What do I love about them?
10. Does my significant other rock my world?
11. What’s one thing I can improve in my relationships this New Year?

Career

1. What skillset did I realize was lacking?
2. What baby step can I take to build this skillset?
3. Who should I build relationships with/reach out to this year to help with this skillset?
4. Did I make wise decisions with my money?
5. What adjustments can I make with my money priorities this New Year?
6. What was the most amazing piece of art I created last year?
7. What amazing piece of art would you like to create this New Year? 

Adventure

1. What’s my favorite item in my home?
2. What am I glad I gave away?
3. What’s the best book I read?
4. What’s the best movie I saw?
5. What’s my happy place? My peaceful place?
6. What makes me feel most free? When do I feel most free?
7. What are five adjectives that describe last year?
8. What are five adjectives I’d like this year to include?
9. What is the coolest place I visited last year?
10. Where would I like to go/travel to this New Year?

Gratitude

1. What’s the best gift I received?
2. What’s the best gift I gave?
3. What’s the nicest thing someone did for me?
4. What’s the nicest thing I did for someone else?
5. What makes my heart sing?
6. How can I bring more of what makes my heart sing into my daily life?
7. What made me smile most last year?
8. How can I show more compassion to myself? To others?
9. What are some things I took/take for granted?
10. What’s one thing I might do to cultivate daily gratitude?

If you struggle with the issues below please check out the corresponding books. They have helped many people I know. I get no compensation for endorsing them.

• Boundaries – Read Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life
• Do you keep choosing unsafe people? – Read Safe People:How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren’t
• Codependency – Read Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
• Sexual Abuse – Read The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
• Had an Alcoholic Parent? – Read Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Looking for a Therapist but don’t know where to start? – Read my article How to Find a Therapist Love

You are awesome and capable of great things. Here’s to a Joyous, Healthy New Year!

With Love,

Z :)

Check out my latest publications on The Huffington Post and Peaceful Dumpling here.