At this time of year there is a magnetic pull to look ahead and begin planning the new year. While this is powerful, we miss out on priceless information by jumping ahead too soon.
So before you jump on this bandwagon, how about trying something new?
Look back.
Look back and tell the truth about the year that’s been.
“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” – Gloria Steinhem
Yeah, it might piss you off, but you can’t let that stop you. Looking back and really seeing both positive and negative aspects of the year is the best way forward. Trust me on this one.
It takes courage and truth-telling; I know you’ve got both.
When you do this work before brainstorming what you want for 2013, you actually create on a blank canvas and not on top of the crap you’d rather hide and forget about.
Telling the truth strips away all pretense.
Let’s begin.
1. What worked this year?
Rewind and go back to the start of 2012. Review the past 12 months and make a list of anything that left you feeling satisfied.
2. What were some of your accomplishments?
It’s sad, but this is often the most challenging question to answer. It’s also an opportunity to be generous with yourself.
3. What didn’t work?
Think of the many areas of your life: business, relationships, health. Be honest about any experiences where you would have loved a do-over.
4. What was missing that things didn’t turn out the way you wanted or planned?
Big learning here if you look. What was missing? Structure, planning, resources; get specific. The more detailed the better; huge learning that will propel you forward when you get this.
5. What are the three greatest lessons of the year?
Do you need to strengthen boundaries or practice better self-care? Maybe it’s time to let go of your attachment to a certain outcome or belief. Whatever is, get it, own it, and move on.
6. What opportunities do you now see?
And finally, it’s time to start creating what you want for next year. Take all the wisdom you’ve just claimed and go for what you want! As if you had a blank canvas, and a better set of brushes, this is your opportunity to create.
But only after you’ve told the truth.
“There is no truth except the truth that exists within you.” ― Neale Donald Walsch
Tell it now.
One of my top three lessons is that procrastination is a double edged sword. While I do some of my best work at the last minute (oh, the life of a creative mind!), the stress just isn’t worth it. I need a timeline, with miniature deadlines, and I need to *stick to it* !
ShaiSmith I’m like you Shai in that I kind of like that last minute energy; must be a leftover from my university days! My question is how can we have both? The energy that works for us AND the timeline to get things done. Could you do some brainstorming there? I will if you will 😉
ShaiSmith I’m like you Shai in that I kind of like that last minute energy; must be a leftover from my university days! My question is how can we have both? The energy that works for us AND the timeline to get things done. Could you do some brainstorming there? I will if you will 😉
One of my biggest lessons from 2012 is that the only thing I need to do to step into my power, create abundance, and live authentically is to love myself unconditionally. That’s where it all starts. That’s the big kahuna. Unconditional self-love. And so the new action I plan to take (and it is a radically new action for me) is to talk about myself and treat myself in an unconditionally loving way.
Carol Hess Yes to unconditional self-love, and the power, abundance and authenticity that are sure to follow! That is a lesson worth everything you (and I) had to go through to get to this very moment. Big Kahuna indeed 😉
Wow, awesome post, Sandi. I like the reflection on the past year as a jumping off point for what is next. I know for myself (and I am sure many others) I tend to close the door on the year with a sigh of relief that I get to start anew. I believe that I always focussed on what didn’t work not my accomplishments and my joys. I am so glad you and Cigdem manifested RRR. I am loving it. One the biggest lessons from 2012 for me was that I tend to believe in everyone being better, more qualified, more together than I am. I also put people on pedestals – so I then look for their approval before taking a step on my own. I now know that putting people on pedestals is not good for me or for them. I have also learned courtesy of the two groups that I belong to on Facebook is that everyone is struggling and unsure just like me. I plan to ask for help more often. To know that all of my felow campers are my allies as I am theirs. AND to get out there and get going!!!
Dearest Joanna Saunders, Your comment makes me so happy I can hardly stand it! Get yourself up on your own pedestal, or better still, smash all the #$%^& pedestals and let’s party on the ground together!!!
You also remind me of the quote, “Be kind for everyone is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato
What didn’t work for me this past year was the time I spent procrastinating on projects that would move me forward in my business because I was either too busy comparing myself to everyone else’s projects, staying stuck because I had TOO many ideas, and wasting time on other mindless activity that kept me stuck in place.
I’m feeling a whole new FOCUS taking shape that allows me to compassionately knuckle down and focus on creating one thing first, then allow the rest to unfold a little piece at a time.
Sabrina at MyMiBoSo Can’t wait to hear about the new projects!
Oh, boy howdy, deconstructing this past year should be interesting! It sure was a doozy — the “dooziest” of my life, probably! But, yes, I’m guessing there’s a LOT of insight to be found there. I’m fortunate in that I had you and Jenny and my fellow Summer Camp Campers to process a lot of it all along the way, so I’m not stuck with trying to learn it all now.
I know lots of what didn’t work, what I want to do differently, etc. — but the absolute gold in this post for me is the encouragement to be generous with myself. Yes, I could’ve done a lot of things better, but I also look at everything I handled and dealt with in 2012 and I really do have to give myself a pat on the back. I had many opportunities this year to be angry and unforgiving, but (mostly) did NOT do that. For the most part, I handled a lot of really heartbreaking stuff in a way that makes me proud. I held things together for my kids even when it felt like my own life was falling apart. And I did the hard work that has laid an emotional foundation for life going forward to be strong and spectacular. Yay, me! 🙂
Thanks, Sandy, for being a crucially important part of my year, and of my growth. I’m eternally grateful for your kindness and insight. xo
Dear LynnHess, Your willingness to keep doing the work has so inspired me this year. It wasn’t easy and you kept at it, focused on getting through to a more resourceful state…and you did it! And now…the journey continues. That’s the part that sometimes frustrates me. I’d like to do the work and be done with it, but ever new challenges and adventures and breakdowns are further along the path. The challenge and the beauty of life. Happy that we’re so often walking the same path my friend.
Great suggestions Sandi. I love and very much needed to read these questions today. No wonder you’re such a good coach.
I need to practice better self care and stick to the boundaries that allow me the time for self care.
Thank you for making me think more deeply about what has and hasn’t been working.
AngelaArtemis Thanks for your kinds words Angela! Sometimes I think I became a coach so that I’d have a structure to remind myself of all these great strategies 😉
Sandi Amorim AngelaArtemis I believe there is some truth to that. I know that the reason I am an intuition coach is so that I am reminded every day to listen to my own intuition – which I have ignored to my own detriment in the past.
AngelaArtemis Wow, you just gave me an idea for a collaboration. Something along the lines of Coaches’ Untold Stories 😉
Hi Sandi,
Love these questions to think through our year. I like to celebrate my accomplishments, even the smallest ones, by just acknowledging them. Equally as important is to look at what didn’t work out as well as I had hoped. Writing this all down helps me. The new year is a wonderful fresh start. Love your line – “As if you had a blank canvas, and a better set of brushes, this is your opportunity to create.” – Beautiful!
cathytaugh Hmm, must be my background in fine arts coming through 😉
I love celebrating and creating for the new year, but I think it’s worth the effort to review and get the learnings before doing so. Makes the new creations that much richer!
Great to see you here Cathy!
A refreshing way of looking at things Sandi…& extremely practical, thankyou
be good to yourself
David
David Stevens Refreshing and practical…I’ll take those and thank you very much David! Thanks for popping by!
I’m so happy to have found your blog, Sandi! These are wonderful, thought-provoking questions. I love this time of year where we really have a natural instinct to go within and reflect. I look forward to reading more! 🙂
Jodi Chapman It’s such a busy time of year though that many don’t make the time to reflect. Personally I’ve found it’s so necessary for me to complete one year powerfully before moving onto the next. What do you think? Do you use a similar process?
And thanks for dropping by, greatly appreciated!