Amidst the hustle and bustle and fatigue of the end of the year, there is an opportunity to pause, reflect on the achievements and step into the next year with gratitude and hope.
As the year draws to a close and the days grow shorter, a variety of feelings stir within many of us. On the one hand, there is the need to complete and accomplish all that we set out to do, to close open chapters and prepare for the Christmas holidays in a peaceful and dignified spirit. On the other hand, we may already be feeling tired, overwhelmed or worried about whether and how we will get it all done. In the midst of all this, however, there is an opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on what has been achieved throughout the year, what we have succeeded in and what we have achieved, and what we are taking with us into the next year.
Gratitude for small and big successes
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often miss moments that we easily overlook because of their seeming ordinariness and take for granted. But what if that ordinary, ordinary and normal day is the one that we will one day remember with gratitude? Let's pause and realize how many small joys and subtle treasures have surrounded us throughout the year - and perhaps still do. It doesn't have to be a partial success at work or study, but also a kind word from a colleague, the understanding of a friend, an unexpected smile from a stranger or a brief moment of peace between two challenging tasks. These seemingly small pieces make up the mosaic of our lives, the value of which cannot be measured only by performance and results. Yet, when taking stock of the year, we often tend to focus primarily on the big goals and whether or not we achieved them. However, the important value of our activities can be found in the process itself, in the gradual growth, self-development and cultivation of our abilities. Whether it was improving our job skills, broadening our horizons through new knowledge, or perhaps finding a better balance between the demands of work or study and our personal needs, every little step has its own significance. So let's try not to judge success only by the size of the benchmark achieved, but let's also appreciate the conditions and circumstances that helped us get closer to it.
Hope as a beacon in turbulent times
The end of the year also offers us the opposite perspective: with what prospects, expectations and plans do we look towards the coming period? Do we look to new beginnings with uncertainty and apprehension, or with confidence and hope? Let us remind ourselves that hope is not just an empty word - it is a deep inner strength that helps us find direction and meaning even in uncertain times and motivates us to take bolder steps. The sources of hope can vary: some people draw it from interpersonal relationships, the support of friends and family, others from positive examples in their environment, others from nature, art, or the knowledge that we have overcome many difficulties in the past. Therefore, We can ask ourselves: What has filled us with confidence in the future this year? And what can we do to strengthen that hope or share it with others? With hope, the future is no longer just an unknown field full of obstacles, but also a diverse landscape of new opportunities, enriching experiences and inspiring encounters.
The power of togetherness
At a time when the pressure for individual performance and autonomy can be relentless, it is also worth remembering that we are not going it alone. Friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances and strangers around us can all be a source of strength, encouragement and mutual support. Sometimes we need to overcome our shyness and ask for help, and other times we can lend a helping hand to those going through a difficult time in their lives. We can also strengthen our sense of mutuality by sharing our experiences and interests in associations and societies or by getting involved in community activities and volunteering. Being out in nature more often, which reminds us of our interconnectedness through its changes, can also help us to feel that we are not lonely pilgrims on this earth, but part of a wider, living whole that extends far beyond us. It is by feeling a sense of belonging to our surroundings and with mutual respect and understanding that we can step into the coming festive days with a clearer mind and a lighter heart, and together fulfil their deep meaning.
So let us wish each other to enter the New Year with gratitude in our hearts and with the hope that even though the world around us may sometimes seem dark and unkind, each of us has the power to co-create it and bring more light and kindness into it. May the coming season bring us peace, joy, inspiration and the ability to not lose sight of what really matters.
Alena Slezáčková is associate professor of psychology and deputy head of the Institute of Psychology and Psychosomatics at the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University in Brno. Her research focuses primarily on the topics of hope, mental health and mindfulness. She is the founder and head of the Centre for Positive Psychology in the Czech Republic, a member of the board of the International Positive Psychology Association IPPA, the representative for the Czech Republic in the European Society of Positive Psychology ENPP and the head of the Positive Psychology section of the Czech-Moravian Psychological Society CMPS. She is the author of a monograph on positive psychology and a number of scientific and popular publications in the field of positive psychology and health psychology.
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