The Yearly Reflection 2025/2026 🌱

Don't start the new year like this

Last New Year’s Eve. We’re at home, playing board games. Then it’s midnight and as we watch the fireworks outside, I suddenly feel sad.

I didn’t really know if last year was a good one or not. And at the same time, since it was the beginning of a new year, I was clueless if I had anything to look forward to. All I felt was an internal shrug.

This feeling was entirely new. In the past, I had always experienced the beginning of the year as uplifting, knowing that the last year was the best one yet, and that the next year will be even better.

This time, however, I just didn’t remember much from the previous year. And without even an idea of how to spend the next year, I was overwhelmed by so much empty space. What was different this time?

Until last year, I had always finished my yearly reflection before the new year started. It brought the previous year fresh to mind and let me truly put it behind me. And it gave me the clarity to feel uplifted by the new-year-energy.

Therefore this year I’m doing my yearly reflection earlier, so I can look forward to 12 a.m. on January 1, 2026, and feel ready.

For a few years, I’ve been sharing the yearly reflection template that I created for my friends and myself. Over 1,000 people have already downloaded it to start their new year and it makes me really happy. You can download the updated 2025/2026 for free by subscribing to this Substack:

Please share the love! Send them this link so they’ll get access to all future yearly updates, too. If you’re an existing subscriber, send me an email to [email protected] and I’ll send it to you again.

I’m wishing you all the best for 2026 and beautiful holidays. Reach out to me if you have any questions or thoughts.

With gratitude,
Marc 🌱