Happy New year my Intentional fam bam.
What a year it has been. I hope you had a chance to pause, breathe, reset or refresh in the last few weeks.
This post is late to the party, but no matter. In reality, Reflection can be done any time any day, any season of our lives.
So, if you are like me who didn’t get a chance to prepare much before 2020 shows up at the doorsteps, this post is for you.
Today, we are going to do a Year-end Reflection.
I have mentioned in my Gratitude Post, that I had to take a couple of weeks break from blogging to reset. I really enjoyed that little break. I also realised how much I needed that rest. So this late post is well and truly justified, at least for me.
This is our journey together towards an intentional lifestyle and little bumps like this are ok. As long as we come back on track and pick up where we had left off, we are good in the hood my friend.
Year-end reflection 2020 is such a beautiful process. It goes beyond thinking about the past and looking ahead.
This is my first year of doing Year-End Reflection properly because I do my Reviews Quarterly. And I must say, this practice is definitely a keeper.
I felt really good after doing this and it made me feel more hopeful for 2021.
My purpose is to share with you the benefits of doing Year-end Reflection. Below are just some of them.
- Discover more about ourselves
- Become aware of our strengths
- Have self compassion
- Gain clarity
- Tread our own path
Year-end Reflection: Why do we need to do it?
Hey, I value transparency in this website, so I just want to state a disclaimer before we continue with Year-End Reflection 2020.
DISCLAIMER This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you use these links to purchase. Please read my full disclosure here.
I started this blog on 1 September 2020 and I have been connecting with you through my weekly posts. You may also be aware by now that I am using the Bullet Journal Method (by Ryder Carroll) and Getting Things Done (by David Allen) in creating an Intentional Lifestyle. One week at a Time.
If you want to check out about these books, please see my Recommendation Page.
Bullet Journal Method and Getting Things Done Method are two of the best investments I have made for myself that save my sanity. They have helped me organised my life both personal and professional life.
If you have read some or most of my posts, Review is one of the words that regularly pops up in my posts. You may check my post on A Weekly Review if this topic interests you.
I am such a big fan of regular review as suggested in the GTD (Getting Things Done) Method by David Allen. This part of the GTD method is where the magic happens. It helps us stay on the right path.
The Year-end Review, is what I call the “ Mother Reflection” because this is a reflection for the whole 12 months. The main concept is the same as the weekly, monthly and quarterly review. The only difference is, it covers 12 months which means that the reflection is more general in nature.
Year-End Reflection connects 2020 and 2021 purposefully
Year-end reflection is the bridge that will connect your 2021 and 2021.
Discover more about ourselves
Self-reflection is a part of the year-end reflection that helps us discover more about ourselves.
This process allows us to look within and discover more of what we are good at. What we need to work on. Why we do what we do and why we think the way we do. Through self-reflection, we can examine what is going on inside and outside of us without judgement.
Become aware of our strengths
Year-end Reflection enables us to take stock of our strengths and get to know them.
Whether we are aware or not, we all have strengths. We just need to know them, so we can use them. According to VIA, focusing on our strengths can positively influence our well being.
Our strengths enable us to perform well. Knowing our strengths and using them allows us to perform at our personal best. It is because when we use our strengths to do something, we are motivated and energised by what we do.
Have Self Compassion
During year-end reflection, our shortcomings, mistakes and failures are going to present themselves. It is extremely important to be aware of them because they are often the huge contributor for our growth.
So, deliberately identifying them is one way towards growth.
Doing this doesn’t mean we need to beat ourselves up nor judge ourselves with the choices we have made. The aim is to establish awareness and that is all. Nothing more, nothing less. Just simply know them.
In that regards, it might seems obvious that as humans, it is hard to deal with mistakes and failures. It is because we are humans.
Negativity bias is a human tendency to remember and anticipate negative events over positive ones. We tend to be more critical of ourselves instead of being understanding. I am so guilty of this but I having a growth mindset seems to do the trick. And that is for another post.
So, our best chance to avoid it, is self-compassion. Having self-compassion helps us approach negative emotions with an open mind, Therefore, it i easier to figure out what’s the next action to take.
As a result, we are able to move on from our mistakes and shortcomings with grace.
Gain Clarity
In the process of Year-end Reflection 2020, we gain clarity front and centre.
We ponder what happened in the past. Then, we become aware of where we are exactly at the present moment. As a result, we are able to strategically plan the next courses of actions to move us forward.
Tread our own Path
Year-end Reflection can be a good tool in designing the life we want in our own terms.
I like to think of year-end reflection this way. I imagine that I want to go to a particular place. That particular place represents my goals. To go to that place I need a map and a vehicle. My map is my Goal Plans, that shows me where I am a certain point in my journey. Regular Review/Reflection is my vehicle. As a “vehicle’ it steers mo towards the path where I need to go.
Regular reflection is my vehicle because it helps me move forward towards my goals. Reflections keep me in check if I am still on course or when I am slightly off. This means I can make necessary adjustments as needed while on a particular journey.
Meaningful Questions for Year-end Reflection 2020
Doing a Year-end Reflection may be overwhelming for some people and it can even get intimidating because there’s a lot to think about. Plus, there are so much emotions involve.
So, to help you out, I am sharing the 6 Meaningful questions to guide your through the process. Try it. It is enlightening.
1.What are you grateful for?
Think about the people that made you smile and help you fill your heart with joy?
What about the places you have been that helped you enjoy life more? Don’t forget all those experiences, good and bad ones. Even the mistakes we unintentionally made deserve a spot here. We should be grateful for the lessons and insights we learned from them.
2.What are your favourite Moments?
Look back and think about the highlights of your year. What are those moments you won’t forget?
What experiences made you smile or laugh?
3.What are you most proud of?
Appreciate what you have accomplished in 2020. Take note even the tiniest achievement you have had. This part is not only for huge achievements. A win is a win no matter what size it is.
4.What would you have done differently?
If you are like me, I am sure there were many decisions you have made that you wished you didn’t make.
Maybe, there were things you wish you did differently.
Think of those opportunities you realised in 2020? How can you use them to move forward positively?
5.What have you learned in 2020?
Last year has been really tough for everyone due to Covid-19. A lot has been doing it tougher than we do. That being said, silver lining is always there for us to search for.
And when we find the silver lining amidst of it all, then things can be a little bit better. As hard as it may sound, we need to accept things as they are, take control of what we can control and let go of what we cannot.
What are the insights you learned from your experiences in 2020? Make a note of the useful insights you have learned in general.
Did you learn something special while trying to work on your 2020 goals?
6.What are your intentions for 2021?
We are fortunate to be given another year. A clean slate to start afresh. If we already started something, then this year can be another page for us to fill with better stories.
This year is another chance to start over if need be, or to continue. Entirely up to you.
Here’s to a better and more positive 2021
I hope those meaningful questions help you set your next 12 months right.
I wonder what goals you have set for 2021. Did you also come up with a Theme? I find having a theme helps with focus. Having a theme limits too much choices and enables us to concentrate on only what matters.
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Let’s design a better and more positive 2021 together.
Here’s to more Intentional 2021.
Much Love,
E
