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Look back to move forward
Hello Reader
The end of the year is upon us and we will soon be caught in the frenzy of the holidays.
In most traditions around the world, the New Year is celebrated as a time for a blank slate. “New Year, new me” is the motto.
Although in order to truly be anew, we need to know there is change.
Change is doing something different, alter or modify.
Of course, there is no obligation to change or start new. Why change when you’re winning? Why change if your life is exactly how you want it to be?
But, how do you know that you’re winning? How do you know if what you’re doing is working, or if you are going astray, without an examination?
How often do you take a moment to really think about the kind of life you want?
As we’re approaching the end of the year, this is the perfect time to start looking in the rear mirror and review the past 12 months.
This will be a springboard for your personal growth and goals to take it closer to the life you want.
Here are 3 reasons to look back, so you can move forward:
Reason #1: Biggest lessons
I see it all the time with people I work with: self-knowledge can be used in service of greater health and well-being. The end of the year provides an opportunity to draw out lessons about ourselves.
Let's not miss the value we can find in the 1-3 of the biggest lesson we learn in the past 12 months.
One of those lessons for me this year is that investing in myself feels risky and is a leap of faith, but has helped me grow so much taller this year.
I have learned that to invest in myself, I had to overcome my own pride.
I love figuring things out myself. But at 42, with 2 kids, what I love even more is a catalyst.
Someone who can get me to the result in a third of the time and without the headaches.
I am finally able to follow the "Who not How" strategy that buys you time, helps you avoid traps and leads to success faster.
The biggest hurdle I had to overcome to use this strategy?
ME.
Surprise surprise...
Aren't we always the ones standing in the way?
I had to learn that it's foolish to try and make everything happen on my own.
Following someone who's gone down the path first, buying a coaching program and having an accountability partner, that does not mean I am not smart enough.
When being coached, I still have to learn, grow and execute.
But having feedback from someone who knows what works is the way to stop spinning my wheels.
I still have to review my year in depth, but my biggest lesson is something that has changed me. This year, I have broken a belief and I am no longer held by it.
If we don't learn the lesson, life will keep challenging us with the same test.
What lessons did you learn this year that can lead to better results?
Reason #2: Acknowledge and celebrate
What happened for you this year? Looking back can help measure accomplishments, bring closure, and acknowledge important events.
It’s easy to keep moving to the next thing and not take pride in what you have done or reflect on life-changing events.
My family has gone through a lot in 2024. So has yours, no doubt.
Most of us are constantly looking for what needs improvement, what’s not working, how far out-of-reach our goals are.
Without taking time to review, we simply go on without acknowledging the progress and how far we've come.
We too often miss an opportunity to celebrate our wins and efforts: what has been done and what is successful.
We don't always count our victories at home as success.
But they matter more than career moves.
What happened for you this past year?
How has that changed you?
What are you proud of?
Reason #3: Refocus on your purpose and create goals for the New Year
Articulating what gives us purpose can result in greater happiness, focus and clarity. People who are connected to a sense of purpose live longer.
A legacy and a life that matters are created by the sum of each year, each month and each day.
It is built on being intentional.
Reviewing the year gets us out of our auto-pilot mode, gets us to zoom out of the everyday hassle and is an opportunity to reconnect with our purpose.
How did this year bring you closer to the legacy you want to create?
What needs to be true for you to become your future self?
Who do you want to be in the situations you face?
Put your life on a new trajectory
An hour of your time spent for conscious examination could put your life on a brand new trajectory, resulting in more personal fulfillment.
Here’s a bonus: once people have more awareness around a topic that matters to them, they start making adjustments in their behavior immediately.
Who knows what kind of progress you might see in your life before the year is over, from taking the time to review 2024 so far?
Please share with me what you learn.
Talk soon
Jihane