Looking Back: Learning and Planning + Year in Review
The Momentum Files #35
How to make impactful life changes.
You don’t have to know it all at the beginning.
I’ve told myself this little gem more than Taylor Swift has written songs about her exes.
It’s a powerful reminder that has guided me through challenging times, helped me make important decisions and infused my life with more calm and confidence.
I’m sharing this with you today because we’re at the beginning of a new year, and it’s a time when you might be feeling pressure to make BIG changes right now. A time when heavy expectations are weighing you down and adding stress, anxiety and mental clutter.
There will always be things (you know… life stuff) that pop up and require your immediate attention. But when you’re on a journey of change, there is often no hard deadline.
It’s a transition.
And you deserve the space and opportunity to discover things as you go.
The best way to move forward towards better things is to take a look back.
By identifying the things that matter most to you, candidly exploring recent experiences and acknowledging your growth and accomplishments, you’ll…
tap into your confidence
expand your awareness
discover what you want to change and how to make change happen
build and maintain momentum that will fuel you as you pursue your goals
The best part? You can do it on your own time… any time!
(That means no added pressure from your already obligation-heavy calendar!)
Here are two exercises that will help you get there.
(I use them myself, and what a difference they make!)
The Confidence & Energy Reflection
This one’s for the list lovers! Making a list of the things you’ve done is… well… a list. Making a list that goes the extra mile and addresses the why behind your accomplishments is a list you can be proud of… and one that serves an important purpose.
Whether on paper or screen, create two columns on a page.
On the LEFT:
What am I proud of and happy about?
On the RIGHT:
This is so awesome because…!
(See… this isn’t a regular list… it’s a super cool really awesome list.)
Start writing or typing away and go back as far as you need to (the last quarter, the last year, etc.).
Items on your super cool list could pertain to your personal or professional life.
As things come up for you, you might be tempted to beat yourself up or pull self-judgment into the process. This is completely normal and presents an opportunity to re-focus on the positive. Exploring why something you’ve accomplished is so awesome actually helps you to train your brain to focus on what moves you forward rather than keeps you stuck. So when you feel the pull of self-doubt and judgment… take a deep breath, let any thoughts come up and then move right back into the positive!
This positive focus will anchor your awareness and motivate you to celebrate your accomplishments (no matter how small they might seem).
Consider this example:
What am I proud of and happy about?
I started meditating.
If you stop here, it probably doesn’t feel like a big win. But here’s why you created the right-hand column.
Why this is so awesome!
I not only started doing something I wanted to do, but I stuck to my commitment – meditating every morning. I now have a new level of calm throughout my day. My anxiety is far less noticeable. And I’m accomplishing more because I’m more clear-headed and motivated.
Wheel of Life
This visual “map” helps you explore where you are and where you want to be.
You can download your very own Wheel of Life exercise that walks you through assessing your satisfaction in each area of your life, provides thought prompts for deeper thinking and tells you how to plan your next steps for immediate action.
This is a real eye-opener. You’ll see your life broken out across the eight most common living domains (career, family & friends, relationships, fun & recreation, health & fitness, money, personal growth and physical environment).
As you reflect on where you see yourself in each area, think about the following:
What are my top lessons learned?
Where did I find joy last year?
What do I want to do more of?
Who and what made me feel happy and confident?
Which environments made me feel great and gave me the freedom to thrive?
Who and what builds me up?
Which things drain me?
Am I staying true to my values and priorities?
Which categories are most important to me?
Where do I want or need to see the most change?
The more clarity you gain around these important life domains, the more awareness you’ll have and the more impactful changes you can make. You’ll get a handle on your top goals and how to reach them… which reduces worry and sparks motivation and momentum.
And remember – it’s not always about doing more. Sometimes, it’s as simple as no longer doing the things that aren’t bringing you happiness (stop going to places that drain you, stop spending time with people who don’t respect your boundaries, etc.).
Take the time to jump into these exercises, and things will start falling into place.
And remember…
You don’t have to know it all from the beginning.
You can figure it out as you go.
I hope what I’ve shared keeps this little gem in mind for you… and guides you to exciting accomplishments, pursuing change on your terms and a whole lot of happiness.
Are you excited to embrace the journey? Reply and tell me about it!