“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” — Hal Borland.
Just two more sleeps, and it’s 2025! Another year ends and a new year starts. For me, as in the case for most people, end of the year is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the year that was. It’s our chance to look back and celebrate our wins and lessons we learned along the way.
To do my own yearend self-reflection, I usually use guide questions which I wish to share with you, in the hope that these too, can help you get started.
Did you keep your new year’s resolutions? – Same time last year, you made a list of things to do for 2024. How many were you able to tick off? Were you intentional and deliberate in making them happen? How many remained as a wish? What prevented you from acting on them? Your answers to this question show how serious you are in approaching your new year’s resolutions.
What did you do new or different this year? – Reflect on the things you did this year that you have not done before. What new things did you discover or learn about yourself? Did you acquire new knowledge and skills? Were there new challenges that you were able to handle and overcome? Do you feel more and better at this point versus how you were at the start of the year? This question allows you to assess your growth as a person.
What achievements are you proudest of? – Of the many achievements you had this year, pick at least 2-3 that you take pride in. Were you able to finally do your daily exercise? Or cut down on your sugar in-take? Have you enlisted in your company’s officer training program? Have you written the first paragraph of your book? Remember, it doesn’t have to be major milestones. They are reminders of what you’re capable of doing, when you give it your heart and mind.
What were your biggest setbacks? – Not everything happened as we have planned. What were the detours or roadblocks you experienced as you journeyed 2024? How did you feel and react towards them? Did they make you stop and sulk or did they motivate and kept you going? What matter are not the failures and setbacks but your reaction and response to them.
Which habits should you keep and which ones should you remove? – Through the years, we have developed our own personal habits. Some serve us well while others held us back, both personally and professionally? Carefully look into your daily routines and identify the positive habits that contribute to your productivity and the negative ones that stall your growth. Once you have noticed the patterns, it will be much easier for you to take the necessary changes to align with your goals.
How have your priorities changed? – It’s just but normal that some of your priorities and focus change yearly. In fact, for others, they can even change within the year. Early this year, you may have focused on your career growth but then realized that spending more quality time with your family matters more. Or you once prioritized working and earning more only to discover that having good health is far more valuable. It’s important that you are aware of these changes as they will dictate your goals, choices and actions.
Are you in the company of the right people? – No one journeys through life alone. You have met and encountered thousands of people along the way. Some just passed by, others momentarily stayed while there are those you kept for a life time. You may have also noticed that as you grow older, your circle of friends become smaller but tighter. That’s why it’s essential that at this point in your life, you are surrounded by people who truly matter to you. Are you with people who believe, support and genuinely concern about you? Those who are with you through your ups and downs? Or are you still in the company of toxic and negative people? Having positive people around you is liberating, encouraging and empowering.
You may add your own sets of questions. The above are just kick starters.
It’s always exciting to start a new year. Asking ourselves these questions allows us to look back, reflect on our experiences, plan and approach the brand new year with more clarity, intent and confidence. This is a mandatory pause before you run full speed this 2025.
A safe, prosperous and abundant 2025 everyone!!!
