Today marks the beginning of another set of 365 days. I guess you may have spent the tail hours of the last year praying to who you believe in. To make the year a better one. You may have even gone ahead to write some resolutions on how to better this present year. Notwithstanding, some of us may not be in this category. There are some people that slept through the night while some partied hard through out the night.
Whatever category you are in, its just another day. Same air, water, environs nothing seems to have changed. However, there is one thing that shouldn't remain the same. It’s your mindset. The condition of mind that saw you through last year may not do same this year. This calls for careful review of the previous year. After which you strategize for the present year if you have not done so already.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result — Anonymous
The above quote says it all, there is no way you will use the approaches that didn’t work and expect different results. The need for adjustments in previous strategies then arises. I will recommend the review to go by asking the following questions.
You are meant to take some time answering these questions, not in your head but by doing some actual writing.
- What went well ?
This is you trying to find out the wins of last year. If there are strategies that worked which you could use again or even refine more.
- What didn’t go so well ?
The game plans that didn’t work shouldn’t be used. Even if you consider using it, there has to be some adjustments. Asking yourself why it didn’t go so well and also another why, and yet another why.
- What did you achieve ?
You have to recognize your achievements. You probably had stipulated things to achieve last year. Revisit them and cross out those things that have been accomplished and then add those ones that are left to the second question.
- What struggles did you face ?
It wasn’t all rosy. There were huddles on the path. Hope you learnt from the experiences you had? If you didn’t, there might be a come back and you have to know how to deal with such situations next time.
- What lessons did you learn ?
What you learnt will help horn your ability to deal with new or related circumstances. Without careful reflection, the significance of an experience may be neglected or trivialized.
You can add more questions to the list above. Try as much as possible to ask Why? To some of the answers you gave above.
Having done that, you then decide what and how to face the present year by asking some other sets of questions. These questions will increase your self awareness and capabilities, not just having some wishful thinking of what might never be.
- What is 2019 going to be about ?
The mind is the factory house where most things we see were processed. It all starts with projecting the thoughts and seeing this as you want them to be. Then you go on to the next question below.
- What do you want to achieve ?
The question of what you want to achieve should be answered SMARTly. They should be
Specific,
Measurable,
Achievable,
Realistic &
Time-based goals
- How are you going to achieve it ?
Having ideas and setting goals are cheap. The onus is on you to find out how they can be implemented. You can either do them yourself or find people who can.
- What’s going to stop you from achieving it ?
Like stated above, it will not be all rosy. There would be hurdles to scale, mountains to climb and so many other resistance. It behooves on you to identify them before hand and think of ways to overcome them.
When you have done all these, stay committed and consistent in trying to achieve them. I have previously written an article on overcoming inertia and doubt. You actually have to believe you can achieve what ever plans you have put down and don’t entertain any doubt about it.
It’s a year to kick some a**, Let’s do it. :)
