The holidays are upon us and you are probably happily preparing for all the festivities and traditions you and your family will enjoy. However, before you close the book (and your office door) for the year, there are a few things you should do to ensure your personal & professional success in the coming year.
Review
Look back on what has happened this year -- any major milestones in your personal life, career, business, or family life. Or, perhaps there were milestones experienced by your family members or close friends that had an impact on you. Leaf through your calendar, photo albums and/or correspondences with others (don't forget emails) to jolt your memory. Also, think in terms of different areas in your life, e.g. personal development, education, career, family/parenting, marriage/relationships, friendships, spiritual growth, health, finance, community involvement. What were the major events and/or changes that occurred this year?
You can make this a holiday tradition for the whole family. Sit down and review the year together, by looking at family albums or home videos, or simply by talking about all the experiences you've shared this year.
Reflect
Once you've reviewed the major events/changes, reflect on the impacts they had made in your personal and/or professional life. What were you most proud of this year? What were your biggest wins/loss? What were you most grateful for? How have these things/people changed you and your life? In what ways have you grown, personally and professionally? What lessons did you learn? What would you do differently next time? What do you need to do to put the past in the past? What do you need to let go in order to move forward?
Make sure you highlight all your achievements and positive changes, no matter how trivial they seem to be. We often have the tendency to focus on our shortcomings, mistakes and what we didn't accomplish. However, in order to build on our strengths and experiences, keep ourselves motivated, and attract more future success, we need to focus more on our strengths and accomplishments. Remember, whatever we focus on will expand. This is why some people say, you can't afford to have negative thoughts.
If you are a business owner, you can invite your employees to do this end-of-year review together. By recounting what you've shared and accomplished together, you will strengthen a sense of community and team spirit. When you feel like you're part of a team and your contribution is appreciated, you will most likely work harder in the future.
Rejoice
Give yourself a pat on the shoulder for whatever you have accomplished this year. Rejoice in your growth and the blessings in your experiences. If you've had a particularly difficult year, it might not be easy to feel grateful or blessed. Sometimes, the hardships and challenges we encounter in life prove to be blessings in disguise. It's not always easy to look at the challenges from a positive perspective, but when you do, you'd feel much more empowered and in control.
So, do try to see the positive in every situation. I think the challenges are placed in our life to "stretch" us and make us grow. I always comfort myself with "It could've been worse" and "Whatever didn't kill you would make you stronger". Somehow, when I consciously focus on the positive things and be thankful for them, I'd find more strength to carry on. It's an affirmation for myself that "all is well" and everything will work out in the end, just like it did before.
Count your blessings. It's the quickest way to get you out of foul mood and negative thoughts. If you believe in the Law of Attraction, you know you need to stay in the more positive emotions and increase your vibrations, in order to attract the positive things into your life. Counting your blessings will definitely help you get into more positive emotions.
Re-focus
Now that you have reviewed the events, reflected in the lessons and rejoiced in the blessings this year has brought in your life, it's time to re-focus your intention and plan for a new year. Remember, New Year's Day is just around the corner. If you can spend an hour or two before year's end to write down your goals, and create an action plan (or at least the first few action steps), you will have the advantage to jump start the new year with a clear intention, well-defined goals, and a game plan you can implement right away.
If you're a visual learner, you can make a "dream board" by arranging pictures & words on a poster board that represent the desired outcome you want when you achieve your goals. You can also write a letter, or in your journal, describing in details your life 3 or 5 years from now, when you've achieved your goals. Write in present tense, as if you're living the life right now. Describe in as much detail as you can. You can also use daily affirmations to remind yourself of your intentions and the positive changes you want to make. Affirmations on tapes or CDs can be very beneficial in shifting your negative beliefs.
When you have the "big picture" (end result) in mind, you can then design a step-by-step action plan to achieve your goals. Make your goals as specific as possible and set up a few "benchmark goals" to help you measure your progress. Brainstorm with your family, friends, colleagues, mastermind group, mentor and/or a professional life coach. You do not have to have the entire action plan written down right away. For now, just get clear about what you want to achieve, and decide on the first few action steps. If you need help with goal-setting, you can take the free goal-setting quiz on my website, or contact me directly for a complimentary consultation.
Also, don't forget to sign up for my next free Teleclass "The 5 Master Keys to Keeping Your New Year Resolutions", scheduled for January 12, 2007. Joining a mastermind group or a coaching group will also keep you accountable, give you support, and help you stay on track. I have two coaching groups starting in late January. If the time doesn't work for you, you can invite your friends to form a group. Just email me your preferred time and we'll work it out.
Then, you can finally close the book on 2006, knowing you're prepared for the new year. Give yourself permission to sit back & relax, and fully embrace the joy the holidays has to offer. You deserve it.
Labels: goal-setting, gratitude, holidays, making changes, New Year Resolutions, vision
