ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS - December
THE PATH FOWARD
Gaining insights into our past experiences is essential for charting a path towards personal growth and success. As we enter a new year, filled with hopes and dreams, it becomes imperative to take a moment and reflect on our aspirations from the previous year.
To effectively assess our journey and set healthy goals, it's helpful to follow these steps:
REFLECTION ON SETBACKS
Take the time to contemplate and learn from the challenges or obstacles you faced in the past year. Identify what went wrong, what difficulties you encountered, and why they occurred. This reflection will help you identify areas to improve upon and avoid similar pitfalls in the future.
ACKNOWLEDGE ENJOYABLE CREATIONS
Recognize and appreciate the things you created or achieved that brought joy and fulfillment to your life. Reflect on the accomplishments, personal growth, and positive experiences that occurred. This recognition will allow you to cultivate more of what brings you happiness and satisfaction.
EVALUATE UNENJOYABLE CREATIONS
Consider any endeavors or creations that didn't bring you the desired fulfillment. Analyze why they fell short of your expectations and identify what aspects or elements you didn't enjoy. This evaluation will help you make more informed decisions about your future pursuits.
PERSONAL INVENTORY
Take stock of your values, strengths, weaknesses, and personal growth throughout the year. Reflect on the lessons learned, skills acquired, and knowledge gained. By understanding what you're carrying with you into the new year, you can leverage your existing assets and continue building upon them.
By engaging in reflection, recognizing enjoyable and unenjoyable creations, and conducting a personal inventory, you will gain valuable insights that can guide you in setting purposeful and fulfilling goals for the upcoming year.
REFLECTION FOR GROWTH
What experiences did you have this year that you enjoyed?
What experiences did you have this year that you felt overwhelmed, fearful or disconnected?
Can you see any repeat patterning with your actions?
Was there opportunity for personal growth?
Did you react or respond?
Looking back over the past year or two, what personal values have you cultivated?
Have you discovered a new strength within or ability for connecting deeper or experiencing compassion and love for yourself in a new way?
What characteristic do you really like about yourself?
How do you live daily using this part of you?
What negative behavior have you discovered about yourself?
How can you be patient, self-aware and not shame yourself as you lean into why you have this pattern?
THE “WHO” YOU ARE TODAY
Now that we have reflected on our creations and experiences from the past year, it's important to delve deeper and examine our behaviors and emotions. Let's take a moment to assess who we were last year.
To effectively reflect on our behaviors and emotions, consider the following questions:
MEETING EXPECTATIONS
Did you meet the expectations you had set for yourself last year? Reflect on your goals, aspirations, and intentions. Evaluate whether you were able to accomplish what you had hoped for, and if not, explore the factors that may have influenced the outcomes.
REACTIVITY VS. RESPONSIVENESS
Reflect on your reactions to different situations. Were you more reactive, allowing emotions to dictate your responses? Or were you more responsive, taking a thoughtful and intentional approach to your actions? Recognize the instances where you may have been reactive and contemplate how you can cultivate a more mindful and balanced approach moving forward.
CURIOSITY, JUDGEMENT, AND COMPASSION
Assess your stance towards others and yourself throughout the year. Were you curious, open-minded, and eager to learn from others? Or did judgment and criticism play a significant role in your interactions? Additionally, consider whether you demonstrated compassion towards others and yourself in challenging moments. Reflecting on these aspects will give you valuable insight into areas for personal growth and improvement.
By taking the time to reflect on these questions, you can gain a deeper understanding of your behaviors, emotional responses, and attitudes from the past year. This self-reflection will provide valuable guidance as you strive to further develop your personal growth, empathy, and resilience in the coming year.