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Articles - Goal Achievement, Life Fulfillment, Success
Believing the potential of human possibilities,
uniquely yours
uniquely yours
How to Learn from the Past Year for New Year Success
by Theresa J. Swift, Jan 11, 2009
who we are or what we truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
who we are or what we truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
or what we truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
repeat of last year?
Annually I take an hour or so to reflect on the past year, acknowledge my accomplishments, and
incorporate my insights into my “being”. Making time to do this reflection and closure activity creates a
stronger foundation from which to progress. My choice to set time aside for myself also builds self-value.
Here are “how to” steps (set aside an hour of uninterrupted time):
1. Celebrations. What were your celebrations last year? Your successes, joys, milestones? Think back --
what accomplishments do you recall from the first half of the year? Write them down. Start to move your
thoughts to the second half of the year and add those accomplishments to your list. Now one-by one
think of last year’s celebrations in these specific areas -- your job, family, friends, significant other, living
arrangements, finances, recreation, fitness, spiritual and self-development.
2. Disappointments. On a new page, list your past year’s disappointments and frustrations. Let your mind
move slowly through the seasons -- spring, summer, fall, winter. When you’ve written all you can, start
going through key areas of your life… relationships, career, health, home life, fun, money, personal
growth. When you’re finished, stand up and do a few stretches to give yourself a quick break.
3. Strengths and Character. “The unexamined life is not worth living”, stated Socrates. For each
celebration you wrote, examine and write down the strengths that you noticed in yourself. Write the
characteristics you see in yourself that enabled you to achieve those accomplishments? Who did you
have to be? Who are you now as a result of these successes? It’s not always easy to acknowledge one’s
own strengths, but once you write a couple, then you’ll get on a roll. When you’re finished, stretch your
arms to the ceiling, move a bit in your seat, and move on to the fourth step.
4. Gifts and “Learnngs”. “There’s no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands”, noted
Richard Bach. For each item on your “disappointment” page, answer: What did you learn about yourself
and life? What is the gift, new skill, strength, or resolve that you found as a result of the disappointment?
This exercise may take a bit of extra thought and creativity. In one or two of the items you listed, you may
find that you’re not emotionally ready to look for a “gift”. Ok. For those, I encourage you to write
something down -- even if the gift is a small one or if there is a remote possibility that a personal lesson
can be learned. If you absolutely cannot think of anything, then acknowledge yourself by writing “I found
the courage (resilience, inner strength, patience... your word) to think about this item just now.”
Finished writing? Great! It takes focus, and quite a bit of mental and emotional energy to think about
yourself and the past year in this introspective fashion. If you keep your #3 and #4 lists, you’ll gain a clear
awareness of your personal growth, your character, values, progress, and trends over multiple years. Take
a couple of deep breaths.
Now we’re going to “close” the past year and move our thoughts forward. For this summary exercise, I
want you to pause and think about your intentions for the New Year… Who do you want to be? “Next year
I will be _____ ; more _________, and less __________.” Specifically focus on “who”. Choose 1-3
personal characteristics to fill in the blanks. Here’s an example: “Next year I will be a loving, available
father; more patient, spontaneous, and compassionate, less ‘workaholic’ and withdrawn.” I will expand on
these intentions in my next article. Your work today has set new possibilities in motion! Happy New Year!
About The Author:
Feel free to download my simple worksheet to do this “Year-end Reflections" exercise; part of my annual
workshop. Theresa Swift, MS, CRC, is a life and business coach, author, and president of Swift Resolve
Coaching. A change specialist, she coaches those who are ready to transform their lives, businesses and
relationships.
Permission is granted to either reproduce copy or distribute article so long as this copyright notice
and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author is Theresa Swift, President of
Swift Resolve Coaching, http://www.swiftresolvecoaching.com/ PO Box 3142, Laguna Hills, CA,
92654. 408-835-3713.
by Theresa J. Swift, Jan 11, 2009
who we are or what we truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
who we are or what we truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
or what we truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
truly want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
want. Do you want a repeat of last year?
repeat of last year?
Annually I take an hour or so to reflect on the past year, acknowledge my accomplishments, and
incorporate my insights into my “being”. Making time to do this reflection and closure activity creates a
stronger foundation from which to progress. My choice to set time aside for myself also builds self-value.
Here are “how to” steps (set aside an hour of uninterrupted time):
1. Celebrations. What were your celebrations last year? Your successes, joys, milestones? Think back --
what accomplishments do you recall from the first half of the year? Write them down. Start to move your
thoughts to the second half of the year and add those accomplishments to your list. Now one-by one
think of last year’s celebrations in these specific areas -- your job, family, friends, significant other, living
arrangements, finances, recreation, fitness, spiritual and self-development.
2. Disappointments. On a new page, list your past year’s disappointments and frustrations. Let your mind
move slowly through the seasons -- spring, summer, fall, winter. When you’ve written all you can, start
going through key areas of your life… relationships, career, health, home life, fun, money, personal
growth. When you’re finished, stand up and do a few stretches to give yourself a quick break.
3. Strengths and Character. “The unexamined life is not worth living”, stated Socrates. For each
celebration you wrote, examine and write down the strengths that you noticed in yourself. Write the
characteristics you see in yourself that enabled you to achieve those accomplishments? Who did you
have to be? Who are you now as a result of these successes? It’s not always easy to acknowledge one’s
own strengths, but once you write a couple, then you’ll get on a roll. When you’re finished, stretch your
arms to the ceiling, move a bit in your seat, and move on to the fourth step.
4. Gifts and “Learnngs”. “There’s no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands”, noted
Richard Bach. For each item on your “disappointment” page, answer: What did you learn about yourself
and life? What is the gift, new skill, strength, or resolve that you found as a result of the disappointment?
This exercise may take a bit of extra thought and creativity. In one or two of the items you listed, you may
find that you’re not emotionally ready to look for a “gift”. Ok. For those, I encourage you to write
something down -- even if the gift is a small one or if there is a remote possibility that a personal lesson
can be learned. If you absolutely cannot think of anything, then acknowledge yourself by writing “I found
the courage (resilience, inner strength, patience... your word) to think about this item just now.”
Finished writing? Great! It takes focus, and quite a bit of mental and emotional energy to think about
yourself and the past year in this introspective fashion. If you keep your #3 and #4 lists, you’ll gain a clear
awareness of your personal growth, your character, values, progress, and trends over multiple years. Take
a couple of deep breaths.
Now we’re going to “close” the past year and move our thoughts forward. For this summary exercise, I
want you to pause and think about your intentions for the New Year… Who do you want to be? “Next year
I will be _____ ; more _________, and less __________.” Specifically focus on “who”. Choose 1-3
personal characteristics to fill in the blanks. Here’s an example: “Next year I will be a loving, available
father; more patient, spontaneous, and compassionate, less ‘workaholic’ and withdrawn.” I will expand on
these intentions in my next article. Your work today has set new possibilities in motion! Happy New Year!
About The Author:
Feel free to download my simple worksheet to do this “Year-end Reflections" exercise; part of my annual
workshop. Theresa Swift, MS, CRC, is a life and business coach, author, and president of Swift Resolve
Coaching. A change specialist, she coaches those who are ready to transform their lives, businesses and
relationships.
Permission is granted to either reproduce copy or distribute article so long as this copyright notice
and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author is Theresa Swift, President of
Swift Resolve Coaching, http://www.swiftresolvecoaching.com/ PO Box 3142, Laguna Hills, CA,
92654. 408-835-3713.
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