Stepping boldly forward…
Here we are in 2021, bravely welcoming a new year and grappling with uncertainty, lockdowns and family cares. I know it’s difficult to keep perspective and forge ahead with so much fragility in the air. I find myself that while it’s essential to acknowledge the difficulties, it doesn’t help to get bogged down by them. So I’ve been taking some time to reflect, self evaluate and create goals and plans for the year ahead. I don’t just mean setting some new year resolutions, I mean sitting down with a journal and pen, lighting a candle and taking an honest look at the year that has passed, looking at what I’ve achieved, what didn’t go according to plan, what I’ve learned and what my plans and dreams are for the coming year, in spite of all the challenges in the midst of this pandemic.
You’re very welcome to join me in this process!
All you need is some quiet time, a candle and a notebook and pen (or a selection of colourful markers for more creativity and fun)
Once you have those things ready, we can begin.
To set the scene, start with a little mind clearing. Ask yourself - can I enter 2021 without recrimination or criticism in my heart and mind?
If you need to, do a dump of all the possible nagging thoughts that might stop you from giving yourself a fresh start…
Make a list of them – I should have, I’ll never, it will never happen etc. etc.
Then tear it up or throw them in the fire. Who needs those thoughts? Not you! If they aren’t helping you move boldly into the future, they’re not welcome to the party! Find some nourishing thoughts to accompany this next stage… How about - I’m ready to embrace the future, I’m growing and learning.. I embrace change etc.
Next, draw a circle and look at the different areas of your life like slices of pie. Include all the different areas that are important to you, for example - relationship/family/children, friends & relatives, work & business, creativity, health & wellbeing, house & home.. etc.. from each of these sections you will have achievements and plans for the future.
2020 was exceptional, yet at the same time, no year ever goes to plan in my experience. Tragedies happen, illness happens, uncertainty is always present and tough years come and go. And even from the toughest years there are gems of joy, gems of wisdom and gems of learning waiting to be celebrated.
The things you achieved in 2020 might not have been the ones you were planning but they are to be celebrated nonetheless!
This is the next step - ask yourself ‘what did I achieve?’
Where one part of your life might have been lacking - getting out for social events for example, another part may have progressed beyond what you imagined – transitioning a business online, managing a family break in spite of lockdowns, managing to juggle homeschool and work, handling a bigger workload, planting in the garden or painting the kitchen. There is always some gold to be found if you cast an openhearted eye over the whole year.
You may have learned new skills in work through coming more online, applying for grants, pivoting your angle. You may started a new business or have lost your job and be looking at new ways to move forward and make the most of things.
You may have spent more time with loved ones and had opportunities to give more attention, grow stronger together or you may have realised that you weren’t thriving in your relationship and made the decision to leave.
Maybe you would like to have done more exercise and you now wish to tackle the Covid stone, or maybe the lockdown inspired you to take things in hand and finally make time for working out.
Achievements can be simple household acts that bring great satisfaction, like buying less unnecessary clothes, recycling more, cooking more from scratch, cycling instead of driving, becoming better at budgeting or finally getting around to baking bread or growing herbs.
You may have paid more attention to your mental health and learned better ways of managing stress or anxiety. You may have made more time for meditation or asked for help when you needed it. You may have improved your boundaries by saying no or turned off the news and read some helpful books.
Once you take a rounded view of the whole year you will notice that you have grown and changed in many ways and each achievement is to be celebrated before moving on. Acknowledge your achievements and and make a list, you can do top 10 or top 20 …the more the merrier!
Next step - Ask yourself, what didn’t go according to plan, what were my disappointments?
Again, these can be In any of those areas mentioned above. There was so much flux in 2020, I’m sure there were disappointments for all of us, big ones and little ones. Missed events, lost opportunities, heartbreaking griefs. Acknowledge the ones that stand out and played a defining part in your year. They may still be very present or have faded into the past. Take some time to sit with them and acknowledge the loss that sits with you.
When you are ready, the next question to ask yourself is: What did I learn?
These can be practical skills or life lessons, learning happens in many different ways and we often don’t realise how far we’ve come until we take a look back over the last months and consider how we’ve changed and grown - for example -
I learned how to manage my anxiety/fear/stress better or I was more patient with the kids/partner/parents
I learned that I’m good at multitasking, or I realised I’m better at budgeting than I thought, I discovered I’m good in a crisis
I learned how to build a website or speak up for myself or manage my relationship with my boss better.
It’s a good idea to spend some time exploring these and seeing how these learnings tie into your past goals and may be useful for what you hope to achieve moving forward. Everything you have learned is compost for the seeds you sow now…
Next, revisit the different areas of your pie and begin to consider each one, moving forward.
Make a loose list of dreams you’d like to see come together in 2021 from the different areas, you can divide it into some for each section or just list them as they come.
Work goals… home goals… family goals…
Then begin to prioritise and create a top ten for yourself so you can see clearly where your focus lies and what will need to be done to get there. It’s helpful to keep the goals realistic and achievable.
You may wish to do this in stages and come back to the larger goals breaking them down into chunks so you can plan realistically for the year ahead. I find it helpful to do a larger vision plan first then break it down into specific goals and plans for each area of my life. the ones that relate to business I will then work on each week/month during my business planning time. The home/garden ones we may discuss as a family and pin up on the fridge.
I’ll often come back to these lists and adjust them over the year. Interestingly there were many achievements from last years list which I achieved in spite of the pandemic, the changed circumstances and lockdowns. There were other things that couldn’t happen or were out of my control or simply faded to insignificance.
I very much enjoy this process of evaluation and reflection and I hope you enjoy sharing it too..
wishing you compassion, clarity and focus for your year ahead.
x x x Siobhán
‘Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.’
Goethe
