Writing Prompts to Reflect and Set Intentions for a Sweet New Year
The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) is coming up on September 26, and while I am not particularly religious it is always a time of reflection for me, as well as an opportunity to return to myself and create new, authentic goals that are aligned with my values and purpose.
Not Jewish? No worries, Rosh Hashana coincides with the Fall Equinox, which is also a great time of power and, as my Buddhist meditation teacher says, the perfect time to take stock of the past, clean up your life, and set some goals.
Using The Power Of Rosh Hashana And The Fall Equinox To Upgrade Your Life
At the start of Rosh Hashana we say that the gates of heaven open and God is able to hear prayers more clearly. The gates close 10 days later, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and at that point one is either inscribed in the “Book of Life” or is not.
As you can imagine, with such high stakes the period leading up to the Jewish New Year and the 10 days when the gates are open are important times of reflection. We are called to look back upon our previous year, make amends to those we have wronged, ask God for forgiveness, and pray for our dreams to come true in the following year.
Breast Cancer Made Me Take The Jewish High Holidays More Seriously
For me personally, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur also coincide each year with my OG WTF Moment: my breast cancer diagnosis in September 2012. That was the first time in my life that I really stopped and took a hard look at myself in the mirror. And I wasn’t happy with what I saw.
Again, while I am not super religious, when you’ve got cancer you’ll try just about anything! So I took the 10 days really seriously that year. I took stock of my life, I repented, I prayed, and I set intentions for a brighter future. I asked to be inscribed in the Book of Life. For 10 years now, this has been an important ritual for me, and so far it has served me well.
Writing Prompts For Rosh Hashana And/Or The Fall Equinox
One of the most important components of this ritual for me has been writing. I would like to share with you some of the writing prompts that I use to take stock of the past year, make amends, and set positive intentions for the year to come.
Reflect and write on the following:
How did last year go for you? What was The Good? What was The Bad? And finally, what was The Ugly?
Is there anyone you need to make amends to? What for? Feel free to include yourself on this list!
In looking back at this past year, as well as the present moment, what are 10 things you are grateful for? If this is hard for you, remember that gratitude can be for even the smallest things, like the fact that you have fresh air to breathe, or perhaps that you had a tasty breakfast today. If you’ve got more than 10, that’s great- keep going!
What do you want out of the coming year? What are your intentions? What are your dreams and desires? Don’t worry about whether these things are attainable or not, just pretend that you have a magic wand that can create anything your heart desires.
Out of the things on your list, separate them into 2 categories: Things in my control, and things out of my control. Once you have done this, rename these categories something that resonates with you. For example, things in my control could be reframed as “Things I am committing to do this year.” Things out of my control might be, “Things to pray for.” Note that some items might overlap a little. For instance, my health is somewhat within my control. I can exercise, eat healthy foods, and meditate. I can wash my hands frequently and go to the doctor when I need to. But I cannot 100% control whether I get sick with anything from the common cold to cancer.
Once you’ve completed this writing exercise, review what you’ve written and come up with at least 3 action items for yourself. One action item might be to pick up the phone and apologize to someone you hurt this past year. Another might be to set a goal to meditate every morning, or to ask your boss for that promotion you know you’ve earned.
Best of luck on your journey this next year, and may you and your loved ones have a sweet and safe Rosh Hashana and Fall Equinox!