Often the focus of New Year’s resolutions emphasizes what is ahead such as setting goals and challenges to be achieved in the future. This focus on resolutions is often connected with an unintentional decrease in reflecting on what we are grateful for in the past year.

I once heard Dave Ramsey on a financial podcast share that our mindset in life should be like looking from the perspective of the driver’s seat in a car. The large windshield is what we can see before us, and the smaller rear-view mirror is what we can see that is behind us. The greater focus is on the larger windshield; however, from time to time it is prudent to look in the smaller rear-view mirror to see what was behind us. December 31st is a good day to take some time to reflect through the smaller rear-view mirror of the past year, particularly with a focus on gratitude.

Saint Ignatius lived during the 1500s and he founded the order of the Jesuits. He believed that gratitude was a very important virtue. St. Ignatius also believed that ingratitude is often the root or cause of sin. According to St. Ignatius, if a person is truly grateful for the gifts God has given him then he is more likely to not misuse them. For St. Ignatius, an increase in gratitude helps with human flourishing.

There is a growing body of research supporting how the virtue of gratitude helps increase human flourishing. Those who are grateful tend to have higher levels of overall happiness and an increased immune system. In other words, an increase in gratitude is associated with positive improvements in both the soul and the body.

Below are three easier ways to look through the smaller rear-view mirror of the past with an emphasis on gratitude. Feel free to try all three of these or to try one or two of the following ways to enter more into gratitude.

The first is to write down the names of persons who we interact with frequently and under each name write down things we are grateful for about them in the past year.

The second is to go through the photos we have in our phones, on our computer or other social media platforms, or on our fridges or bulletin boards and create a collage of gratitude.

The third is to download the app titled Reimagining the Examen which has an examen option focused on gratitude. This app is based on a 500-year-old prayer developed by St. Ignatius that helps a person to review their past and find blessings in their everyday lives. For those who do not have a phone that can utilize this app, simply pray the following prayer from the gratitude examen: “Lord, I am so grateful for your gift to me of —-.” This is a beautiful, short prayer.

Take time today to look through the rear-view mirror of the past year with a focus on what you are grateful for.

Luke Daghir is a seminarian for the Diocese of Erie. He is with St. Joseph and St. Luke Parishes in Warren County for his parish mission. He is grateful for the opportunity to write for the Times Observer this past year and looks forward to writing in 2023.