Annual Reflection Guide 2024 - Make Changes That Last
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Photo By nomadic lass
One of the most helpful traditions I have kept over the last 6 years is to do a reflection on the past year. I’ve noticed that the better my reflection, the more likely it is that I’m going to follow through on my goals. Last year I can see that I kept to most of my goals and that feels incredibly satisfying. Historically, I’ve struggled to be in touch with my real needs and I’m not the most disciplined person I know. So, I see this as a sign that I am getting more and more in touch with what matters and really living it out. In a deep way this sort of reflection is creating more and more CONGRUENCE in my life: connecting who I am at a soul level to the life I live.
I also love sitting down with a cup of coffee with my wife and good friends to go through the findings as it really brings everything into clarity.
If you haven’t done a reflection yet or considered goals for the year, IT’S NOT TOO LATE. Set some time aside this weekend and dive in!
IF you feel resistance to this idea and need some inspiration then read the stuff below. If you are like “game on” then go ahead and skip to the reflection guide.
NOTE: feel free to use this however you like and to share it in whatever format you choose. No need to give me credit or have to link back to this post.
And…so it begins…
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Today I want to help you make changes that last. Key to that is REFLECTION. Feel free to skip to the Annual Reflection Guide below if you don’t need convincing as to why it’s a good idea.
Reflecting on the year (let alone the last week!) can feel DAUNTING. I think part of the resistance that may come up has to do with not wanting to see the painful parts of the year.
The voices in our head might say:
"Aren't I just gonna see what a failure I have been? How things never change? How I've hurt myself and others? Why revisit painful memories…again!?"
Whether you are helping people grow or going through a growth process yourself REFLECTION is medicine for the tired, wounded and broken soul. Pain avoided can lead us down the very path that brought us pain in the first place. Pain confronted can lead to a place of wholeness, peace and courage.
HURDLES TO REFLECTION
It's often more difficult than it seems; sometimes how jumping in a cold lake seems before your swimming around in it. Yes, it will sting but then you'll feel refreshed and renewed.
With reflection it may be that what keeps you at the edge of the cold lake is really a problem with self-acceptance.
Self-acceptance is about fully acknowledging what's wrong as well as what's right. It's acknowledging the good choices and the bad and saying "that's me." Only with a sane, honest view of yourself will you be able to see clearly what next steps to take in life. Self-acceptance is the birthplace for changes that last.
REFLECTION, therefore, is a discipline of self-acceptance.
REWARDS OF REFLECTION
REFLECTION is also a practice in making meaning of your life.
Meaning-making is powerful.
Viktor Frankl, one of a few survivors of his holocaust cohort said that meaning-making is what allowed him to survive the soul-crushing torture. Not only did it allow him to survive it is what allowed him to be kind to others and to strive to live fully every moment until his liberation. Here is what he wrote in Man's Search for Meaning:
For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.
Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.
Imagine how having clarity on your unique mission would impact your career, closest relationship, finances or recovery.
Here is my invitation for you to practice self-acceptance and to make meaning of your life. Here is an invitation to learn, grow and take one step closer to where you want to be. Ultimately, here is an invitation to making changes that last.
ANNUAL REFLECTION GUIDE
STEP 1: find a place you can unplug and relax for an hour
STEP 2: skim the reflection questions (below)
STEP 3: go through your photos
When I start to take stock of the year I go to my phone and start looking at photos and videos of the year. Social media may be a place where you capture moments that can be helpful too in reflection. Having skimmed the questions I start to look for answers in the moments I recorded. I don't take a ton of photos. The photos just jog my memory for the different themes and parts of the year. I have an unhelpful memory so this helps a ton.
STEP 4: fill in the blanks
With the questions and photos in front of me I start to sketch some answers.
STEP 5: journals, workbooks and blogs
After an initial perusing I take it to the next level and skim my journal, blog or anything else where I've written down thoughtful work. Usually this just adds to what I've already sketched. What's interesting about this part is tracking to see how my perception changes--my view of myself, of relationships, of issues. It can be pretty deep to see if/how your fundamental view of reality changes over time and to see what events influence the change.
STEP 6: (if you are a spiritual person) expressing gratitude to God or your higher power. If you are not spiritually inclined I invite you to write what you are grateful for down and what it means to you.
I like to pause here and have a moment of conscious contact, to have a moment of thankful communion for all that brought life into my life.
STEP 7: looking forward
After looking back I look forward. After or during my thankful communion and meaning making clarity often comes with a phrase, image, poem, song or verse.
I wonder what phrase or image you will have for 2022?
Annual Reflection Questions
1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
3. What were your best/worst decisions of the year?
4. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
5. What was an unexpected obstacle?
6. Pick three to five words to describe 2023
7. Pick three to five words your family and friends would use to describe your 2023—don’t ask them; guess and ask them afterward if appropriate
8. What book impacted you the most? How?
9. What person impacted you the most? How? Share with them if it is appropriate to do so.
10. Relationships. How connected or disconnected did you feel with the most important people in your life? Who did you grow closer to? Who did you grow farther apart from?
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
14. What was the most enjoyable part of your work experience?
15. What was the most challenging part of your work experience?
16. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
17. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
18. What were some of the important things you learned this past year?
19. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2023 for you.
20. (If you are spiritual) What meditations, concepts or scriptures shaped your 2023?
After all this reflection what most stands out? What do you have clarity on now that you didn't before? How does this inform your goals for 2024?
Cheers! Happy New Year!