2024 Reflections on Healing
Happy Sunday and welcome to the last Undoing Toxic Blog entry for the year. We made it!
Today, and most of this week, I have found myself in deep reflection. What happened this year? Where did it go? Time just doesn’t feel real. What’s on tap for next year? I don’t want to be on the strong soldier list for next year, so please God…and the list goes on. It is normal to be in a reflective state and to also have some anxieties about what lies ahead. What are our personal lives going to look like? Family, friends, romance? Professionally? All we know is that we just want it to work.
Before looking ahead, we have to take time to look back. I invite you to look for opportunities to close your year with gratitude and growth. For many of us we think about healing as either something really abstract or concrete. Whether you have been in therapy or not this year, I am almost certain you participated in some kind of healing. Healing work is a process that involves awareness: confronting past wounds, the patience to develop new coping strategies, and the dedication to nurturing emotional and mental well-being. If you incorporated therapy into your healing journey this year or not, today’s blog is dedicated to celebrating those big and small steps that have brought you closer to understanding yourself better and building healthier relationships with the world around you.
A Year of Lessons Learned
I don’t know about you, but 2024 has been a year of ups and downs and I am personally just ready to turn the page to next year. Despite the challenges I faced, I still had to seek wisdom to learn the necessary lessons for these storms.
Therapy often reveals truths we were possibly not aware of or afraid to confront. Perhaps this year, you uncovered:
The courage to set boundaries, even when it felt uncomfortable.
The power of saying “no” without guilt.
A newfound ability to sit with difficult emotions instead of running from them.
These lessons, while deeply personal, connect us to a universal truth: growth is not linear. There are days when we stumble, but even in those moments, we’re learning.
Celebrating Small Wins
Progress is not always linear or noticeable in big steps. Also look at the smaller steps and wins you may have taken. Noticing that “old you” would have reacted differently is a sign of growth within itself. Did you:
Speak up for yourself in a challenging situation?
Recognize a negative thought pattern and reframe it?
Prioritize rest and self-care despite feeling pressure to keep going?
These are not small wins; they are profound shifts that deserve celebration.
Gratitude for the Journey
As we look back, it’s important to acknowledge the support that made healing possible. Gratitude can be directed toward:
Your therapist, who created a safe space for exploration and growth.
Loved ones who respected your boundaries and celebrated your progress.
Yourself, for showing up and doing the hard work, even when it felt overwhelming.
Carrying Forward a Therapeutic Mindset
The end of the year is a chance to think about how we’ll carry the tools and insights from this year into the next chapter. Consider:
Setting intentions: Instead of resolutions, focus on values like kindness, resilience, or curiosity.
Practicing self-compassion: Remind yourself that perfection is not the goal; progress is.
Staying present: Ground yourself in the here and now, recognizing that each moment offers an opportunity for growth.
A Final Year-End Check-In
Take a moment to reflect on these questions:
What moments brought me the most joy this year?
How did I show up for myself in times of struggle?
Do I have any regrets or wish I did something differently?
Did I miss any opportunities to lean on friends/community?
What areas of my life do I want to nurture in the year ahead?
Looking Ahead with Hope
As the new year approaches, may you carry the lessons, wins, and gratitude from this year as a foundation for what’s to come. Healing is an ongoing process, and every step you take is an investment to a renewed version of yourself.
Here’s to a year of continued growth, deeper connections, and the courage to embrace every part of your journey. Wishing you peace and self-compassion for the rest of this holiday season and in the year ahead.
Let’s connect. Email me: moniqueevanstherapy@gmail.com
Accepting individual, couples, and family clients (self-pay and select insurance via headway.co- Monique Evans, LCSW)
For social work clinicians, I also offer clinical consultation meetings (Not to be confused with clinical supervision for licensure hours) at any level of practice.
Book me as your mental health presenter for speaking engagements, podcasts, panels, and presentations.
Disclaimer:
The intention for using social media for social workers and other mental health professionals is for marketing, education, advocacy, thought leadership, and providing content in a technologically changing field. We want to do this while making potential therapy-seekers aware of the risks and benefits of engagement on social media and Internet where mental health professionals are present. A therapeutic relationship is a professional relationship and in today's technological climate, a social media presence or following your therapist on social media is not to be confused with a relationship outside of therapy. Ethical, professional, and therapeutic boundaries must be followed and honored.
A counseling social media page or blog is not psychotherapy, a replacement for a therapeutic relationship, or substitute for mental health and medical care. A social media presence as a counseling professional is not seeking an endorsement, request, or rating from past or current clients. No social media posts or blog should be considered professional advice. The information contained in posts is general information for educational purposes only.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical and/or psychiatric mental health crisis and requires assistance, please call 911 emergency services.
988- National Suicide Prevention Hotline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Safe Horizon 24-hour Hotlines (se habla español):
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