My 2022 Mantra Reflection & Year In Review
My 2022 Mantra Reflection & Year In Review
Another year in the books! I know I feel and say this every year now in my adult life — but 2022 FLEW by! I mean flew. I still can’t believe it’s a new year, but I’d have to say, this time around I’m glad for it. 2022 was simultanously a good and very, very hard year for us and I was ready for that clean slate feeling of a new year.
2022 marked the first start to a year where I began paying attention to “mantras” and “words of the year”. It impacted me so much that one of the things I was immensely looking forward to about this new year was doing that all over again! It’s a little different this time around, but I’ll get to that in another post. Today I want to look back and reflect on my mantra from 2022 and see how it actually took effect in my/our lives. I just read through my mantra and thoughts I had almost a year ago exactly — and WOW. They still hit in a powerful way, especially my musings surrounding each word and how it *might* apply to my life over the course of the year. If you haven’t read that post yet, check it out here >> My Mantra for 2022.
To recap, my 2022 mantra words were G R A T I T U D E, M I R A C L E, B R E A K T H R O U G H, and C R E A T I O N. And my word of the year was B A L A N C E.
My 2022 Mantra Reflection
Gratitude
GRAT · I · TUDE | noun
THE QUALITY OF BEING THANKFUL; READINESS TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR AND TO RETURN KINDNESS.
LOOKING AHEAD: Overall, in looking ahead at how I wanted or thought this word would affect my life in 2022, I mention patience, slowing down and appreciating. Taking a step back, taking a breath, and connecting - with how I’m feeling, what matters most, and getting perspective. Feeling grounded. I had hoped to find and have more G R A T I T U D E generally in the coming year. By doing things for me or just in my own way, writing down specific things I’m grateful for every day, having quiet time, or just a moment of peace, of just existing - not building something, not working on my next project, not trying to keep myself busy or being creative, but just by *being* in the present.
LOOKING BACK: Looking back on the year, I’d have to say I achieved this in many different ways. Most especially, albeit later in the year, with trying out The 5-Minute Journal by Intelligent Change. In the first half of the year, I definitely slowed down. My focus at that time was on fertility treatments and as it was our first time going through that, it took a lot of effort and most of my mental output. We were also traveling a good bit for those treatments, so I was forced to live more in the moment and outside of my own head. My priorities were definitely rearranged. I read less, worked less. Found joy in baking, easy, lighthearted romcoms, and tv shows of the same type. I hermited more than I normally do. And when we got pregnant, I found a peace and solace that I haven’t felt in many years. I felt healed and whole again. I was grateful that we were finally able to experience a positive outcome with trying to conceive, albeit only for a short time. July - October were the hardest months of the year for me. And through a fortunate opportunity, I was able to turn to and try out the 5-Minute Journal which I’ve been using ever since. It’s changed my perspective, improved my mental health, and enhanced my daily routine for the better. I’m so glad I’m going into 2023 with this new habit and tool at my finger tips so I can continue practicing G R A T I T U D E as much as possible.
Miracle
M I R · A · C L E | noun
A SURPRISING AND WELCOME EVENT THAT IS NOT EXPLICABLE BY NATURAL OR SCIENTIFIC LAWS AND IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED TO BE THE WORK OF A DIVINE AGENCY
A HIGHLY IMPROBABLE OR EXTRAORDINARY EVENT, DEVELOPMENT, OR ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT BRINGS VERY WELCOME CONSEQUENCES.
LOOKING AHEAD: In my reflection of what this word could mean for me, for us, in 2022, it was ultimately baby.
LOOKING BACK: And looking back, that’s exactly what happened. Our fertility treatments were successful very quickly and my husband and I were able to experience a positive pregnancy test and ultrasound confirmation of the little babe in those early weeks. I was terrified and left in a state of wonder for those short 8 weeks, too. Unfortunately, in early July, we lost the baby.
Breakthrough
B R E A K · T H R O U G H | noun
A SUDDEN, DRAMATIC, AND IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OR DEVELOPMENT.
AN INSTANCE OF ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN A PARTICULAR SPHERE OR ACTIVITY.
LOOKING AHEAD: I saw this word relating to my life in a couple ways — first to M I R A C L E and then also to my work as a creative freelancer and book blogger. I’d hoped it could mean a dramatic shift in results and all the effort I’d been putting into my blog and social platforms, especially from an opportunity and income perspective. I also wondered if it might relate to my low-key effort as an author and writer, too.
LOOKING BACK: I’d have to say this hit on all those points, except the author part! That certainly fell by the wayside in 2022. I’ve absolutely thought about it regularly, made more notes about plot points and world building elements in my notes app whenever inspiration strikes, but I never actually sat down and wrote anymore. As it was, I had a lot on mind through the course of the year and probably wasn’t in a state to spend so much time in my head that way. I’d still love to accomplish this piece, just for myself really. Maybe 2023 will be different! As it relates to M I R A C L E and having a baby, I think not only getting pregnant was the B R E A K T H R O U G H, but also the healing I experienced as a result, despite that this pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, too. Finally, and maybe even more importantly, my work and creative efforts paid off significantly in 2022. I had so many more opportunites this year and also made more money! I’m grateful for both of those things and I’m hopeful they will continue in 2023.
Creation
C R E · A · T I O N | noun
THE ACTION OR PROCESS OF BRINGING SOMETHING INTO EXISTENCE.
LOOKING AHEAD: My biggest takeaway from my 2022 reflection of this word is that if I’m C R E A T I N G, I am happy.
LOOKING BACK: And looking back this is beyond true. After we lost the baby, I clung to my daily routine and my creative work. It was really the only thing that kept me going. The normalcy, consistency, and quiet healing it brought me is beyond words. I also created a new routine in those months, too, by starting and ending my day with The 5-Minute Journal. I also rotated in the use of the Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change shortly thereafter. That’s had a huge effect and change on my productivity, creative output, and motivation! Ultimately, creation will always be a part of me whether it’s creating and designing content or just simply creating a better life for myself. It’s always there, and I’m grateful that it’s apart of who I am.
My Word of the Year Reflection
Balance
B A L · A N C E | noun + verb
stability of one's mind or feelings.
remain in a steady position without falling.
LOOKING AHEAD: I didn’t dive too deep into what this word could mean for my 2022 year. Honestly, I think I felt it was kind of self-explanatory. I’m sure most of us could use more B A L A N C E in any area of our lives. And generally speaking, that’s what I had hoped for. B A L A N C E with work and rest, with boundaries and putting myself out there, with my mental health and infertility as well as social media, with my introverted and extroverted sides, with my homebody nature and thrill of new experiences, with pleasing others and doing what’s best for me and me alone, with obligatory reading and just reading what I want and what brings me joy.
LOOKING BACK: B A L A N C E was definitely a huge part of my 2022 year. First and foremost, I would say, with social media and boundaries. I learned to let go and do less there, so I could focus on other areas in my life and work. It freed up mental space as well as cleared some needless anxieties. I was also reminded that people come and go and becoming friends, at first, doesn’t mean friends forever. I ventured out a whole lot more this year. We traveled a fair amount, as well. I read less as a result, but I’m definitely not mad about that. I also B A L A N C E D more reading what I want with ARC (advanced reader copy) reading and other book collaborations. I was able to rotate in more lifestyle content into my blog and social media spaces too which I hope to keep doing more of. Overall, I think I was just able to find a better B A L A N C E balance between life and my creative work again and adhering to boundaries when the need calls for it.
In 2022, we also got to:
Visit Chicago and walk the magnificent mile, see the bean, go to a Cubs game, and enjoy a slew of amazing places in between.
Attend a family reunion for my husband’s family, also in Chicago.
Spend a week in Walt Disney World!
Visit Folly Beach, South Carolina.
Smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving (my husband did!).
Host Christmas Day.
Ring in the new year at a good friend’s house in silk pajamas.
Watch the new Avatar movie in the movie theater.
Apparently go to 85 different bars and restaurants over the course of the year (oh my)!
How was your year? Did you (or do you usually) pick a word or mantra at the start of a new year?
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I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Leggings, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a bookworm and homebody at heart with a knack for content creation & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
The last month or so, I’ve really been leaning hard into those things that are bringing me pure joy and just all around happiness, even that quiet happiness, that complete contentedness, despite what life is throwing at me. That’s where I’ve been thriving most especially of late and where I definitely want to stay. Here are 5 things that are bringing me joy lately.