Many of us use December as an ending mark of yearly personal and career goals, or the close of our year-to-date financial totals for our businesses, and/or our savings plan. Some of us look forward to January as a brand new slate or fresh start. We enter the New Year with a clear mind, proclaiming new promises and commitments to “get to the next level”, …whatever that may be.
How can we be certain we are not living in the world of “if you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got”?  Unfortunately many people start out with good intentions of goal setting, and tracking, but few people stick with it.
Here is a system you can use to reflect and seriously consider your strengths, and challenges of this past year. You will then be able to use your discoveries to your advantage of goal setting for next year. (This is a great exercise for a team meeting.)

Reflection
The definition of this word is very fitting in both senses of its use:(1.To seriously consider, and look back on. 2. A mirror image.) In the first sense we have an opportunity to look back, celebrate what we loved, or change what we didn’t like. The second definition allows us to take a look at our self, and choose if you like what you see. There is unbelievable power in choice, and change!

Time to reflect:

1. Start by reserving special time by yourself to complete this system.

2. Sit down with your calendar from this year. (This could be your past appointment books, or personal calendar.)

3. Start in January. Look for your strengths, or your “high-points” (This could be your highest daily or weekly total at work or personally, a special day with your family) As you find these days remember how you felt, how excited you were, how you celebrated, or how it was special.

4. Next, look for your challenges, or your “low-points”. It is just as important to acknowledge these days happened too. The purpose is not to beat yourself up about them, but to create awareness, and celebrate how you overcame them, or develop a system to avoid revisiting the same challenges! Here is a quote I love – “When you fall--pick something up!”

5. On a separate sheet of paper divide the paper into 4 columns and label the top of the first column- What I Loved, skip a column, and then label the third column, What didn’t work. Down the side of the paper list the twelve months. Give yourself a couple spaces below each month to take note of your discoveries.

It’s time to refocus!

1. After you have listed at least two experiences under your highs and lows
of each month, reflect on how to create a specific action to repeat the high points.

2. Now, acknowledge the low points and create a specific system to avoid learning the hard way AGAIN! (No one wants to go back to the school of Hard Knocks for the same lesson!)

3. Next--ask for SUPPORT! Do this within 24 hours of completing your chart! Your support person could be a co-worker, a mentor, or a family member. Share with them your yearly reflection, and your action plan for a powerful New Year! This helps solidify your commitment to yourself!