Dear ,
Can you believe it? It’s that time of year again. As in, the end of the year. It’s a funny
time because on one hand, we are busier than usual, with many of experiencing a particular level of stress with the crunch of end-of-year work deadlines, increased family obligations, expectations of gift-giving and entertaining, attending parties, traveling.
On the other hand, it’s a time when many of us feel this tug,
this desire to pause and reflect, to think back on the year that has passed, and make plans for the year to come.
With busyness on one side and the desire for reflection on the other, I can tell you which side usually wins out in my life!
This is why, a few Decembers ago, I created a self-guided reflection exercise that could be done in a relatively short amount of time, yet yield important insights on the past year and hatch new plans for the one to come. I created it for myself, my coaching clients, and my friends. I update it each year, and I’m delighted to share it with you today.
I call it "Three
Steps to a Great New Year." It’s only three steps, based on an approach I often using in my coaching, particularly when I am working with clients around “What’s Next?” in their careers and lives. In a nutshell:
- Take Stock: What was the good, the bad, and the ugly (as well as the beautiful) about 2017? Think back on last year, and identify what you were doing when you were most aligned with your core values and playing to your strengths?
- Get Clear: Based on what you loved and loathed about 2017, what do you really,
really want in 2018? It doesn’t have to be a traditional goal like “get a promotion” or “land my dream job.” Maybe you want to feel a certain way — more calm, relaxed, and focused. Perhaps you want to take more risks or experience adventure.
- Take Action: Brainstorm some actions you could take to get you closer to what you want. Then choose one goal to start with. Design some
do-able actions that you can get started on right away. Build in accountability.
These three simple steps – Take Stock, Get Clear, Take Action – don't take a lot of time, and can bring about amazing results.
I invite you to download the PDF worksheet here. It contains questions and prompts for reflection, and space for you to jot down your answers. The best part is that it doesn't need to take a lot of time (though you can take as much time as you like!)
If
you can find some quiet time – even 30 minutes – in the next week before the end of the year, I invite you to use this process. (If you are gathering with family and friends over the holiday, you can even invite them to participate – print out copies of the PDF for each of them!)
If you see no way you can take a quiet
moment between now and New Year’s, no problem. You absolutely have permission to do this process in January after the chaos of the holidays has subsided. I’ve even been known to delay this reflection until Chinese/Lunar New Year, which is typically in February!
Let yourself off the hook – no guilt – and know that this
process will be waiting for you when you’re ready.
If you do try out this process, I’d love to hear how it goes for you, and what insights or plans emerge. Feel free to hit <reply> to this email to let me know.
I wish you a peaceful end to 2017, and a wonderful new year!
Warmly,
Shana
