With 2025 being a few days old, I allowed myself time to pause and reflect on the year that has been 2024.
What went well? What tested me? How did I grow?
For too long, I have tried traditional year-end reviews, but something always felt missing and off—everything I tried did not really resonate with me—until I began viewing the process through the lens of music.
This time, I took on a 4-song challenge—a melodic journey of self-discovery—to reflect on 2024.
Each picked song represents a phase, lesson, and aspiration, and I am excited to share this approach with you because it is so much more than an exercise. It is a unique way to deeply connect with your experiences and move into this new year with clarity and purpose.
Here is how this 4-step process works and how I used it to create my musical year-end review.
The first step in this journey is to reflect on the year you envisioned for yourself. Think back to January 2024: What were your hopes, dreams, and intentions? For me, the song that captured my mindset was one filled with energy and optimism, a track that mirrored how I wanted to feel as I stepped into the new year. It was a song by the band Hinder, “The Best Is Yet to Come.”
Now that you know how you envisioned 2024 to be, it is time to check how your year actually was. What challenges tested you? What happened that you did not expect and maybe even threw you off your envisioned path? How did you respond to that? What emotions dominated? What went well and what did not go so well?
For me, this meant choosing Linkin Park’s “Numb.” It perfectly reflects some personal struggles and dark moments I faced along the way.
This step needs a lot of honesty and vulnerability. By acknowledging both the highs and the lows, you create space for acceptance and growth. Choose a song that mirrors the essence of your 2024—the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Next up, it is time to reflect on what you have learned in step 2. What insights have you gained from the challenges you faced? What strengths did you uncover, and where did you feel you let yourself down somewhat?
Find a song that captures the lessons you have learned. This isn’t just about the struggles—it’s about how you have evolved and the wisdom you are taking with you into the future.
The song I picked to use for this step is Jin’s (of BTS) “Abyss.” Its lyrics and mood resonated with me as it was a year where I rediscovered my inner strength and self-worth.
Finally, it is time to look ahead. What energy, mindset, and goals do you want to carry into 2025? For me, G-Dragon’s “Home Sweet Home” spoke to my desire to rebuild a foundation of happiness and belonging—a theme that feels like ‘home’ and inspires my whole being to take the actions to achieve this while leaning into the emotional state I want to be in as much as possible.
Choose a song that reflects your intentions for the year to come. Let it inspire you, ground you, and serve as a melodic reminder of where you are heading.
Music has this incredible ability to connect us to our emotions, memories, and dreams. It is more than words alone can express; it can unlock insights that traditional journaling or goal-setting might not reveal. For me, this 4-song review allowed me to combine reflection with embracing the next chapter of my journey with more intention.
If this resonates with you, I encourage you to give it a try. Find four songs that tell the story of your year: your vision, your challenges, your lessons from 2024, and then your hopes for 2025. Let them guide you through a heart-centred review that connects your experiences to the melodies and lyrics that move you most.
What will your 2024 musical review look like? Take some time and allow yourself to dive into this musical reflection and know that you can step into 2025 with growth, clarity, and, last but not least, a personal soundtrack for that particular year you can look back on with gratitude.
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