Review Your Year Using These 4 Simple Questions
Friends,
The time has come as we get ready to say goodbye to 2024 and welcome in 2025!
Before I start to make my goals and plans for 2025, I always like to take a moment and reflect back on how my prior year went.
CAUTION: this is not the time to beat yourself up for things you said you'd accomplish and didn't.
This is the time to use our compassion, empathy, and patience on ourselves because as we review the year, we may end up finding some things that didn't go as well as we would have wanted or expected. So with that in mind, there will be 4 things that you'll want to reflect on regarding some of those goals, tasks, or activities that didn't go as planned and feel free to book a YEAR End Review Session with me in January, to learn more.
As for the Four (4) Simple QUESTIONS that I ask myself, as I reflect on the past year, they are:
1.) What was your Favorite/Most Enjoyable event, achievement, or project this past year?
To try and find the best answer to this question, I will go through either the photos in my phone or my google calendar to see all the different things I did or experienced in the past year. Once I look through all of the photos or check out the various events scheduled on my calendar, not only am I able to find 1 or 2 favorite achievements or things I did, but I also realize how much I actually did do and find the events that were most valuable to me.
Many times, this “accomplishment” or “project”, wasn’t necessarily “THE BIG” one, you originally would have thought of. I often find, it’s the smaller, micro-achievements, or the simple “hangouts” or appointments that were MOST enjoyable as it allowed me to feel fulfilled, nourished, and most of all special.
2) What was your Biggest learning, failure, or disappointment this past year and what did you learn about yourself from it?
Now this is the question that you definitely don’t want to shy away from or give yourself any grief or shame with your response. In fact, this is the question that if answered honestly, you’ll be able to become MORE self-aware and can LEARN from it based on what occurred.
For example, for me personally, I was most disappointed this past year about NOT getting enough registrants for my live group coaching courses and had to cancel not just one, but BOTH of the sessions. In years past, this would absolutely devastate me, like I wasn’t good enough, or I am such a failure. This year, however, I was surprisingly not upset. I was able to control my self-talk and re-frame it in such a way that maybe it wasn’t the right program for my clients right now, or I wasn’t completely ready to deliver the program, or maybe I didn’t maximize my ability to market the course. ALL things I can review objectively, not take personally, and move forward in 2025 with some decisions on whether or not, I want to try again or do something different.
3.) Identify 2 things this past year that you changed or did that made the biggest IMPACT on your business (positive or negative).
Again for myself, one thing I did that made the biggest impact negatively for my business is, I had stopped making time to work out routinely. My workouts were only few and far between, maybe a hike here, a bike ride there. I even stopped going to the gym every week, and it started to take a toll on my moods and relationships.
Thus, now I know, if I set up time to workout regularly and get back to a healthy routine, even if it’s simply walking around the block, my mood, creativity, even my focus will be a lot clearer and crisper in the new year.
Another thing I did that positively impacted my business this past year, is I started utilizing AI (Artificial Intelligence) with taking notes, transcribing sessions, and even helping me put together some powerful talks. Always finding ways to be most efficient and effective is something I consistently strive for - so if you’re looking to learn more on how I do this, let’s schedule a complimentary call.
4.) Sum up 2024 with one word or phrase.
I like to do this every year because it allows me to “tie a bow” around how the year went. There is no judgement to the word or phrase you select, it just is. And allowing yourself the opportunity to reflect on what that is, can give you the closure and keep that energy, whatever that may be, in that year.
Turning the page on another calendar year is a wonderful opportunity to start the slate clean and get going with all our many dreams, aspirations, and hopes for the future. Taking some time to reflect is simply another way to set the stage for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for everyone! CHEERS~