Why You Want To Review and Celebrate before Setting Any Goals For This New Year

I woke early today, my mind churning with thoughts and reflections. I could feel it, New Years Eve is upon us.

The festive weeks of December, and gorgeous ‘Summery’ January are very special times for me. And I’ve learnt ways to savour the reflective stirrings within.

I made a cuppa and grabbed my journal…   not to write today but to read.

Reading my journals, to absorb another years musings, is a New Years Eve tradition for me.

A way to reignite ideas and reconnect with my ponderings, as I review and celebrate 12 months of challenges, learnings and achievements.

So as the clock ticks away the final hours of 2018, I’m drifting deeply into a reflective state.

This feeling of hibernation used to worry me. I’d wrestle my urge to retreat, and ignore my craving for silence.

I now recognise this as a natural phase I enter before I’m ready to set new goals. A period that may last hours, even days, as a vital part of my preparation for Goal Setting.

So today I’ll honour my desire, and take time to close off, and bunker down with my Review and Celebrate Questions.

All of this preparing me for the New Year ahead.

Keep reading if you want the EXACT questions I’ll be using to guide my thoughts over the next few days…   as I dive deeply into this period of Reflect, Review and Celebrate.

Start by setting aside 20-30 minutes, and find somewhere you can relax into these questions. Maybe a local coffee shop with your favourite latte, propped on a cushion in the back garden or in the bath with a herbal tea or glass of wine.

Trust yourself to answer intuitively from the heart.  What comes up is your truth…  This isn’t about what “looks good”, and there is no right or wrong. Think about what YOU are proud of – no matter how small or unimportant it might seem to others.

1. What were your biggest achievements this year?
   This could be something big, small or anywhere in between. What are you most proud of?
2. What have you achieved that has surprised you?
3. What ‘smaller’, less obvious things are you proud of achieving this year?
4. What Challenges Did You Overcome this Year?
   What was hard? What are you proud of overcoming, dealing or getting to grips with?
5. What Did You Learn about Yourself?
   Think about your strengths, weaknesses, talents, positive or limiting beliefs, desires, values, hopes, fears, etc.
6. What New or Existing Relationships Did You Nurture?
   Who did you meet? Who did you grow your relationship with?
7. Where Did You Have the Most Fun?
   What did you enjoy most in your life this year? Take a moment to really feel into this question.

Now it’s time to REVIEW your responses and absorb how it feels.

How do you feel as you look over your lists?

What are the highlights?

What themes and patterns do you notice?

If there was one thing that stood out, what are you most proud of this year? Circle it!

Now, for the juicy part…Take a deep breath and really feel and celebrate all that you already are – and are becoming. Enjoy what you feel and absorb it.

Stay here for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, two minutes. Relax and stay a while longer – proud of yourself, your achievements, what you learned and how you grew.

Recognise yourself. See who you are and what you achieved this year!

What are you saying to yourself right now that you would like to remember and hold onto?
Write it down…

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” – Thomas J Peters

I don’t know about you but 2018 delivered some big surprises my way!  I achieved so much more than I expected in some areas and less in others.

And its all good! I’m deeply grateful for all that came my way and I’m ready to welcome 2019 and all the new opportunities it offers.

See you in the New Year!