Take Stock Of Your Life
As 2007 draws to an end, it’s a good idea to look back and take stock… not because the past year will dictate your future, but because you can use last year’s successes, or the lessons learnt, to help set your goals for 2008.
This is a good time to start thinking about what you want more of in 2008… so you can start the new year with a running start!
To help get you started here are a few questions - use them constructively and don’t make judgements about yourself if you’ve fallen short with anything… just make observations and use those observations to move yourself forward. One way to do that is to imagine you’re helping a friend - would you criticise them mercilessly if they’d fallen short on something? Or would you build their confidence with praise and encouragement?
As you work through these questions, write down your answers - it helps to reinforce your thoughts.
You’ll also notice these are fairly general questions - not just related to work. It’s important to create balance in your life, so looking at personal issues such as relationships is just as important as looking at your work.
Hopefully, you’d choose the latter approach!
Please, tell me you would!
OK, let’s get going!
Use these questions to look back at 2007…
- What’s your overall feeling about 2007? Good? Bad? OK?
- What changed for the better during the last 12 months?
- What changed for the worse?
- What successes have you had?
- What failures?
- What are you happy with?
- What has disappointed you?
- What lessons have you learned?
- What have you learned about yourself?
- Is there anything you’ve put off?
- Does you overall life goal still hold true?
- Where did you concentrate most of your energy last year?
- Did you move forward last year?
- Did you make the most of your gifts and talents?
- Are your relationships stronger and better?
- Is there anything else you want to comment on from last year?
As ever, write your answers down, that will help you fully assess your current situation and remember… Don’t Judge Yourself… just observe!
Putting yourself down or being over critical will simply destroy your confidence. the important thing is to move forward from now with confidence and focus.
OK, well done, now keep your list safe and come back in a day or two, when I’ll be helping you look forward to 2008 with excitement and anticipation.
Have a great day.
Keith L Jones.
