2010: How Was It For You?

Thomas Paine said,

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.

As a reformed non-reflector, that quote really speaks to me.

• If we don’t reflect, we’re missing a key stage of the cycle for learning to be effective.
• If we don’t reflect, we risk not accumulating the wisdom gained from our experiences.
• If we don’t reflect, we’re doomed to keep making the mistakes of the past and never learn from them.
• If we don’t reflect, we make ourselves vulnerable in difficult times, more inclined to react without thinking.
• If we don’t reflect we just stay the same old, same old.

And yet, every January, millions of us make New Year resolutions, full of good intentions - but without first reflecting on how we got to here.  So, without even realising it (because we haven’t reflected), we’re setting ourselves up to repeat the same mistakes, not learn from experience and so stacking the odds against our success.

How about reflecting on 2010 and starting to accumulate some of that wisdom, which can be applied to 2011?

Here are some questions to aid your reflections:

1. What were the high points of 2010 for you?
2. What were the low points of 2010 for you?
3. Sum up how 2010 was for you in ten words or less.
4. What skills and abilities did you learn or develop during 2010?
5. What are you grateful for as you look back on 2010?

For more self-coaching questions to support your reflections, sign up for my monthly tips before January 18 and you’ll receive the latest newsletter along with a link to the questions.