Personal Reflections: a dive into the learnings I am taking into next year

This time of year, I make the time to sit and reflect on the year that has been.  I can honestly say this has been a big one!  There is so much to be grateful for, things that happened faster than I imagined, big steps taken, and also things that didn’t quite go to plan all wrapped up in a lot of learning. 

Taking the time to sift through all of this helps me to build the foundation of my plan for next year. 

To start with I ask 3 really simple questions (I highly recommend you doing the same for yourself and your team): 

1.       What I achieved, 

2.       What didn’t work out and why, 

3.       What I learnt, and as a result what I would do differently. 

The biggest insights are always, what did I learn about myself?  Where did I rise to the challenge or on the flip side where did I not pursue a goal or idea, I set for myself.  Where did I throw caution to the wind and just go for it?  Or where did I hold back, getting stuck in motion (not action) and perhaps over thinking it, and then understanding why. 

I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone more than ever this year.  I have turned up to more coffees and walked into more rooms where I didn’t know anyone, just about more times than the whole rest of my life.  

I also gave myself permission to share in those conversations my big audacious goals, what I was looking for, where I wanted to get to and ask for advice on how to do that.  This simple action has been a game changer. 

Was it nerve racking, absolutely yes!  Did it result in some amazing opportunities that would have never otherwise come my way, absolutely yes!  Reflecting on these actions has allowed me to challenge and reframe my thinking and my existing beliefs in some key areas. 

And so my take aways are: 

o   What can I do more of and how can I leverage and build on that, 

o   Be strategic, my plate is now fuller than ever across many different spaces – I need to prioritise carefully for next year, nearly everything I say yes to will mean I am saying no to something else, 

o   Know my big rocks, the things I need to work on every week and allocate time, 

o   Discipline in a couple of key areas is really important for me. I know when I am living a disciplined life because things feel much smoother and there is flow, when my discipline goes skipping out the window things start to get a bit scattered at the edges (then it’s time to step back, pause and do what I need to do to get back on track), 

o   Recognise when I am procrastinating or avoiding something and do that first to get it off my plate and out of my head (those recurring thoughts are telling you something), 

o   Find your tribe, this year I have built several tribes that are all serving me and allowing me to contribute in different ways and boy is it rewarding, 

o   Know where I haven’t put my focus, energy, or effort and where possible outsource it or let go of it. 

This process allows me to go into the end of year break and new year with an immense amount of gratitude for the people I have met, relationships I have built, insightful conversations I have had and connections I have made.  They are a big part of what has made this year so enjoyable.  This reflection gives me the energy to do it all over again, in an even bigger way. 

It doesn’t matter where you are on the scale of having an amazing year to a very challenging year, taking the time to pause, reflect on and give meaning to your experiences will ensure the learning opportunity isn’t lost.  It also helps you to ensure your next action is the most effective one. 

I always go into the new year with a plan.  The one I’m putting together for next year will support me to take the next step in my own development, for my clients and in my business.  That is an exciting thought and will require the energy to spend time out of my comfort zone.  

Bring it on.