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Don’t make a single New Year’s resolution until you do this

This is an important practice to help you set goals that are really important to you, and then actually achieve them.

Don’t make a single New Year’s resolution until you do this
[Source photo: Rishabh Dharmani/Unsplash, Aaron Burden/Unsplash]

When is the last time you paused and reflected on your year with intention? Not your year-end review at work, not looking at your numbers and where you are in your business. Your year.

The hustle is real, so we rarely do this. Instead, many of us focus keenly on new year’s resolutions that often fall by the wayside come March. But gauging where you are is important to your growth. Equally as important is celebrating all the amazing things you’ve accomplished and reflecting on what could have gone better.

This is an important practice to help you set goals that are really important to you, and then actually achieve them. Whether I’m working with executives or entrepreneurs, I suggest using my “Top Five” framework when doing your year-end reflection to be thoughtful as you look back at how far you’ve come, and be intentional in setting some powerful personal and professional goals for the year ahead.

Grab a pen and paper or your journal, and write down your answers to the following questions.

WHAT ARE THE TOP FIVE THINGS YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF FROM THIS YEAR?

As you’re considering your responses, think about different aspects of your life—such as career, financial, health, personal relationships, family, and community.

  • Reflect on why they went well.
  • Celebrate them by treating yo’self! What is one thing you can do to treat yourself and celebrate all that you did this year?
  • Take three deep breaths of gratitude for what you’re most proud of. Studies show that practicing gratitude can have physical and psychological benefits. Find a quiet place. Close your eyes. Think about how these accomplishments make you feel. Breathe in and breathe out.

WHAT WERE YOUR TOP FIVE BIGGEST LEARNINGS THIS YEAR?

Remember: You can get new learnings from things that didn’t go well, but also from things that did go well by looking at why they worked.

  • How could these learnings be applied in your life moving forward?
  • What specific actions can you take so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes and you can double down on what worked?
  • Take three deep breaths of gratitude for the lessons. Breathe in and breathe out.

WHAT ARE THE TOP FIVE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE NEXT YEAR A SUCCESS FOR YOU?

Make sure you’re thinking about your whole life and your whole self. This goes beyond making a million dollars or getting the big promotion. This is about your overall fulfillment and your emotional well-being. Think:

  • What actions can I take to make those things happen?
  • What support do I need and where can I get it?
  • What challenges do I think I might face and how can I mitigate those challenges?

VISUALIZE THE TOP FIVE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE NEXT YEAR A SUCCESS

Visualization allows you to not only see yourself achieving your goals in the future, it allows you to feel what it would be like to achieve your goals. Many high-performing Olympic athletes utilize visualization to picture themselves successfully executing and winning their competitions. When these athletes visualize themselves performing in an event it stimulates the same region of the brain as when they’re actually competing. Sports psychologists encourage them to immerse themselves in the desired outcome. This includes winning the event but also includes imagining the sounds, smells, tastes and any other sensory stimulations of the moment. When it’s game time, you’re ready.

Close your eyes, and visualize your future accomplishments.

  • What have you achieved?
  • How does it feel to have reached your goals?
  • Who is there to support you and celebrate this moment?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zee Clarke is the author of the upcoming book, Black People Breathe and leads transformative workshops on mindfulness, breath work, and stress management tools for BIPOC employees. More

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