They say beauty posits the possibility of happiness,
and reflection is required for true knowledge,
and the self sits silently at the center of life
like the axle of a giant wheel.
So in this year devoid of touch—too digital,
too destructive—touch this book instead.
Fill it with your beauty. Fill it with your reflection.
Fill it with your self.
—Chad Rochkind, SYPartners
2020/2021
This is a booklet to help you reflect with honesty, and plan with a sense of possibility.
Because it has been a year.
And the truth is, nothing will be magically different on January 1—except, maybe,
our perspectives. One reason we love rituals at SYP is because they provide a sense
of rhythm, of community, of familiarity. At this moment in history, it is as important as
ever to create space for rituals and mark the passage of time. We hope this booklet
allows you that space.
Arrive.
Put on your comfiest clothes.*
Pour yourself a hot beverage.
Find a corner of the world that brings you peace.
Let go of all of your expectations.
Start when ready.
*That is, if you haven’t already been living in them since February.
3
THE PAST YEAR
Reviewing the year
Flip through your calendar week by week starting from January 2020. If you see
an important event, gathering (3D or 2D), project milestone, personal milestone,
or otherwise memorable moment, write it down here.
Next, highlight the highlights. Circle, star, underline, or otherwise decorate the
memories make you most smile with fondness.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
4
THE PAST YEAR
What 2020 was about for you
Spend a few minutes thinking about the following areas. What stands out for you
in terms of progress, milestones, challenges, and triumphs throughout 2020?
Jot brief notes below. Did we miss a category? Add it in the last box.
Next, put a star next to the 3-4 areas in which you feel most pride. What stands out?
Work & Career Hobbies & Relaxation & Pause
Passion projects
Friends & Community Personal life & Family Home & Belongings
Physical health Mental health Intellectual growth
& Fitness & Wellbeing & Curiosity
Finances Bucket list*
*In case you achieved something this year you always wanted to achieve.
5
THE PAST YEAR
Six sentences about your past year
The wisest decision I made…
The biggest lesson I learned…
The biggest risk I took…
The most important thing I did for others…
The nicest thing someone said to me…
The way "current me" is most different from "Jan 1, 2020" me...
6
THE PAST YEAR
Six questions about your past year
What are you most proud of?
Who are the three people who influenced you most?
What bit of constructive feedback you received this year rings most true?
What bit of positive feedback you received this year rings most true?
What is the best thing you discovered about yourself?
What are you most grateful for?
7
THE PAST YEAR
The best moment
Recal the greatest, most joyful moment at work over the past year. A moment you felt
fully activated. Describe/sketch it here. How did you feel? Who was there with you?
What were you doing? What kinds of smells, sounds, or tastes do you remember?
Can you do more than one moment? Sure :)
Feel free to think of a personal moment as well.
8
THE PAST YEAR
Your biggest accomplishments
List your three greatest accomplishments from last year.
How did you achieve them?
Who helped you achieve them? How?
Your biggest challenges
List your three biggest challenges from last year.
If you overcame them, what or who helped you? If not, what feels most difficult?
What have you learned about yourself while overcoming these challenges?
9
THE PAST YEAR
Forgiveness
Is there anything over the past year that still needs to be forgiven—either by forgiving
yourself or others? Write it down here. Do good for yourself and forgive.*
*If you don’t feel ready to forgive yet, note it down anyway. It can work wonders.
10
THE PAST YEAR
Letting go
Is there anything else you must let go of before you can start your next year?
Draw or write, then think about it—and like a child releasing their grip on a balloon—
let it all go and watch it float away...
11
THE PAST YEAR
The past year in three words
Choose three words to define your past year.
, ,
The book of your past year
A book was made about your past year.* Write down its title.
*Apologies if we got it wrong and yours was made into a movie.
Farewell to your last year
If there is anything left that you would like to write down, or say goodbye to, do it now.
12
You’re done with the past year.
Take a deep breath.
Get some rest.
When you’re ready, step into the liminal space. While you may be completing this
before December 31st, consider yourself officially at the threshold—the deep midnight
between a sunset and a dawn, the moment of pause between an exhale and the next
breath—and soon to be in the blissful days of late December when you’re not sure
the day of the week or the last time you said, “I think you’re muted”.
Welcome in.
13
2021
14
THE YEAR AHEAD
Have the audacity to dream big
What does the year ahead of you look like? What will happen in an ideal case?
Why will it be great? Write, draw, let go of your expectations and dare to dream.
15
THE YEAR AHEAD
What 2021 will be about for you
Define the most important aspects of next year in the following areas.
What do you see on the horizon? What will you make a reality?
Write down your aspirations in the categories below.
Work & Career Hobbies & Relaxation & Pause
Passion projects
Friends & Community Personal life & Family Home & Belongings
Physical health Mental health Intellectual growth
& Fitness & Wellbeing & Curiosity
Finances Bucket list*
*This is where you can list those goals you eventually want to achieve.
16
THE YEAR AHEAD
Magical triplets for the year ahead
Three skills I will cultivate in myself and three people I will look to for inspiration.
Three words I hope people use to describe me when I ask for feedback next year.
, ,
Three ways I will nurture my relationships—at work and/or in my personal life.
17
THE YEAR AHEAD
Magical triplets for the year ahead
Three things I will do every morning.
Three objects I will use to make my surroundings cozy.
, ,
Three things I will allow myself to indulge in regularly.
18
THE YEAR AHEAD
Define your aspirational role
Which role(s) do you aspire to play? Check up to three boxes. Don’t see your aspired
role here? Add your own!
The maker The empath The healer
The provocateur The researcher The originator
The creative The visionary The comic relief
The advisor The whisperer The team glue
The poet The facilitator The magical elf
The planner The synthesizer The jump starter
The shaper The listener The calming presence
The catalyst The motivator The garden fairy
The explorer The aligner The question-asker
The systems thinker The writer The compass-maker
When you think about how you spend your time, what do you do today that supports
these roles? How can you do more of that next year?
When you think about how you spend your time, what do you do today that doesn’t
support these roles? How can you do less of that next year?
19
THE YEAR AHEAD
Six sentences about your year ahead
This year I will not procrastinate any more on…
This year I will find new bravery to…
This year I will let go of...
This year I will find more joy in…
This year I remind myself that…
This year will be special for me because…
20
THE YEAR AHEAD
Your word for the year ahead
Pick a word to symbolize and define the year ahead. You’ll be able to look back at this
word as your compass.
My word is
Secret wish
Unleash your mind. What is your secret wish for the next year?
21
I believe anything is possible this year.
Signature
Date
You are ready to start anew.
Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out.
Welcome the renewal.
Begin.
22
This book is inspired by and adapted from YearCompass—a labor of love from a team
in Hungary including Adam Freisinger, Andras P. Toth, Gabor Szarvas, Istvan Vigh,
Laszlo Bekessy, Laszlo Vad and Zsofia Csuth. They generously built their work under
a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.
We are sharing this adaptation under that same license.
