Christmas is over and the New Year is knocking on the door. I feel like the more years go by or the older I get, the faster they seem to fly.
As you look back on the past year, are you thinking “I could have done more.”? As a result are you trying to squeeze in as much as possible and even considering rolling old goals into the New Year because you just didn’t reach them?
What if you were to take another approach, instead of racing through the end of the year, you stopped for a moment to reflect on “what’s been?”. I know, many of us are not wired like this. We figure the faster we move forward, the quicker we can push the reset button.
First, let’s STOP to reflect on a year of life, wisdom and resilience. Whether you believe it or not, if you have made it to the end of December, these things are sprinkled into a chapter of your life book called 2016.
I love these three questions from Valerie Burton which helps us to honor the experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly – of the last year.
1. What was your most gratifying accomplishment this year?
No eye rolling allowed. You need to give yourself credit for the way you handled a really tough situation. Maybe you opened your heart to love even though it’s been broken in the past. Did you learn to swim or play a sport? Did you spend more time with your family? Maybe you worked really hard on what matters most to you. Acknowledge it. Say it out loud. How does it feel? Pretty good, right?
2. What is the message in your biggest challenge?
The message may take awhile to think of BUT I bet you could quickly name a mess from this past year. What was your biggest mess? Whatever “mess” you had to deal with this year, there was a message in it. A lesson learned. Maybe a way to handle the inevitable challenges when they pop up in the new year. The biggest challenges in our lives are often the open door to biggest transforming opportunities. This year’s biggest challenge for me was dealing with the symptoms and ultimate diagnosis of MS. I have learned A LOT which has empowered me to move forward in my business reaching for my dreams no matter how scared I am. Yes, a health challenge has helped me in my business. You never know where the message may take you. Remember there is always a message in the mess even if we don’t see it at the moment.
3. Who added joy to your life this year?
Ultimately, our life is rich and fulfilling because of the people in our lives. Even if all isn’t going as you’d hoped, never take for granted the souls who make you smile and the people who come through for you. Research shows happiness is contagious. Having just one happy person in your inner circle can boost your happiness – even more than a $10,000 raise, according to one Harvard study. The goal of a bigger bank account this year could actually come from the joy of your relationships. Remember the old saying “money can’t buy happiness”? It is so true. And when you are joyful and happy, the positive energy will draw more positive energy… who knows how big the bank account could grow?
Take a moment to reflect on the past year and answer the three questions. Share with us what you discover. Let’s CELEBRATE 2016 as we get ready for 2017!
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 