End Of Year Soul Review
It’s that time of year again—rushing to close the business, meet deadlines, and prepare for the holidays that inevitably take up mental space. Usually, the end of the year is a time people wind down, process the year, and gear up to dive back into the grind come January.
I get it. It can feel like an endless race. All you want at the end of the year is to stop thinking about work, let alone examine yourself.
But when is the right time to work on yourself, if not now? I mean to review your year not just from a business perspective but also from an inner one.
For the past seven years, I’ve made it a point to do an EOY (End-Of-Year) review. It has become a routine —a chance to step back and evaluate my life choices for one day every six months. For some, this might feel like more “work,” but for me, it is the most meaningful work I can do. It is where I reprioritize and recalibrate key areas of my life: relationships, family, purpose, health, and work.
For those who resonate with this approach, I’m sharing a few journaling exercises I’ve practiced over the years and applied in my coaching.
Previously, I wrote about some of my go-to journaling exercises: lifeline, energy in/energy out, and fear-setting. Feel free to revisit that post for details.
I am sharing in this post additional practices I’ve added to my process this year.
Gratitude Journal
This year has been challenging for many, with layoffs, forced changes, and mounting corporate pressure. If you’re ending the year on a negative note, consider starting a gratitude journal. Reflect on the highlights of the year and what you’re thankful for:
- Which events are you grateful for?
- Who in your life are you grateful for?
- What are you grateful for right now?
As I am finishing my year review, I realized there were so many moments to be grateful for in 2024, even though it was a tough year in many ways. Starting and closing two ventures, navigating financial stability, and juggling family plans were all challenges. Yet, there were also deeply meaningful experiences that planted seeds for my business direction in 2025.
Some of the standout moments for me this year include reconnecting with my grandmother in Vietnam, embracing my Asian roots, deepening my work in conscious circles, and meeting exceptional entrepreneurs in EdTech, health, and impact-driven businesses, spending quality time with loved ones.
These are the memories that make my life worth living. And I feel inspired to tackle 2025.
And you, what were your best memories?
Life Values & Principles Update
Values are a great compass to guide our decisions but are often vague and non-actionable. I prefer to write down principles, which are more concrete behaviors and easier to track.
Here are some examples:
- Live each day as if it were your last, with no regrets.
- If I’m afraid to do it, that’s a good reason to try it. I will grow from it.
- Don’t let fear guide my decisions.
- Treat others with respect and as equals. Treat others as you want to be treated.
- Understand someone before judging them. Be curious about who they are and what they value. Ask questions.
Every six months, I revisit this list to see if it still holds true.
If not, I ask myself: What else is missing?
I encourage writing down principles you truly own and can commit to. If you’ve strayed from your intended behavior, this exercise is a good reminder to course-correct by building supportive habits and rituals.
Self-Audit & Personality Tests
Lastly, if you’re a fan of personality tests like I am 🤓, they can be a fun and insightful way to kick off the year. Here are some tests I’ve found valuable for personal growth and team development:
- Enneagram: Great for understanding team dynamics and personal growth.
- Gallup StrengthsFinder: Great for identifying your strengths or with a team.
- OCEAN (Big Five Personality Traits): More scientifically reliable than MBTI.
- Accidental Diminisher Test: Are you unintentionally diminishing your team’s potential? This test can help you find out.
See you in 2025 🎉
We’re taking a week’s break from the podcast and content during the EOY holidays. It is a great opportunity to catch up on content you have missed!
Use this time to enjoy your loved ones, but don’t forget to carve out moments for yourself as well. Your well-being and energy are your greatest gifts to others 💕
With love and gratitude,
Sophie
I am hosting an exclusive retreat on March 6-9 for women executives in Games & Tech in Portugal, accompanied by a 6-month mastermind program.
Ten women have been hand-selected to participate in a unique and transformative experience ✨. We have 1 spot left until January 11th, 2025.
The retreat is designed to accelerate women’s growth to their next stage (i.e. growing their business to the next level, transforming their career, or building their new company) through the retreat program and mastermind.
If that resonates with you, book a call to explore a match and learn more.
