As 2025 comes to a close, a lot of us have mentally checked out; maybe it’s the amount of snow we’ve had to shovel already this season, or maybe it’s lack of sunlight, but there’s no better time than now to take a moment, glance back at the year that was, and figure out what’s worth carrying into 2026 (and what’s worth leaving behind). Reflection isn’t just for journals or motivational Instagram posts; it’s the mental play-back that helps us take stock of what actually mattered, what made us laugh, and what we might want to do differently next year. Some of us do this with spreadsheets and plans, some with a running commentary in our heads, and some just by replaying every highlight… and out take, like an extended director’s cut. Here’s a peek at what that looks like when each personality hits rewind on 2025.
Authentic Blues are wondering if they made a difference this year. They’re thinking about who mattered most this year and whether those people know it. They’re replaying moments that felt meaningful, moments that felt off, and conversations they might revisit with better wording next time. They’re reflecting on their personal growth in all aspects of their lives. Did they handle a situation better than they would have last year? Learn a new skill? Build new relationships? That’s progress! They’re wondering what lessons actually stuck, which values felt tested, and whether they were true to themselves more often than not. Mixed in are thoughts about creative ideas they (almost) followed through on, personal goals that shifted shape, and a gentle curiosity about who they might be becoming next.
Inquiring Greens are busy connecting dots, even if no one asked them to. They’re thinking about what they learned in 2025, what surprised them, and which assumptions might have fell apart along the way. They’re reviewing ideas that worked, ideas that didn’t, and ideas that still feel unresolved. They’re mentally sorting through the things they’ve read, conversations had, and questions that didn’t have neat answers. They’re noticing patterns, questioning trends, and wondering what’s actually changing versus what just looks new. Somewhere in there, they’re also thinking about how arbitrary the calendar is, whether goals really need years attached to them, and what challenges might be worth tackling next.
Organized Golds are doing a practical wrap-up. They’re thinking about what systems held up this year and which ones caused more work than they saved. They’re reviewing commitments, routines, and responsibilities, noticing where consistency paid off and where small adjustments could make next year smoother. They’re mentally checking boxes on things that got done, things that almost did, and things that somehow keep rolling over from year to year, and adding them to the top of next year’s list. Some things worked exactly as planned, some didn’t, and they’re already sorting which ones deserve a tweak and which ones just need to be left alone. They’re also thinking about the important people in their lives; who they showed up for, who supported them, and how to maintain traditions in a changing world.
Resourceful Oranges are replaying the highlights reel, but it’s less polished montage and more freestyle scrapbook. They’re thinking about risks they took, chances they skipped, and moments that came out of nowhere and somehow mattered. They’re remembering what felt exciting, what felt limiting, and where they surprised themselves by sticking with something longer than expected. They’re imagining what could be next, not as things to check off a list, but as a set of exciting possibilities. New ideas are already elbowing their way in, competing with half-finished ones from earlier in the year… or the year before… or the year before that. They’re thinking about freedom, momentum, and how to keep things interesting without burning out.
Taking time to reflect at the end of the year is very personal, and doesn’t reveal anything we don’t already know. But it does help remind us of the highs and lows, what proved useful, questioning what took more energy than it gave back, and making a few mental notes for next time. Whether that looks like deeper meaning-making, better questions, improved systems, or a fresh set of possibilities, it all leads to the same underlying goal; heading into 2026 with a little more clarity than we had going into 2025.
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work. Brad is also on the board of directors for the Career Professionals of Canada, and an advisory committee member with the Career Development Professionals of Ontario.
