A quick guide for writing your year-end Reflection in 6 steps.
"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." - John Dewey.
We are just 18 days away from wrapping 2022, and the end of the year always leaves me in a reflective mood. As I composed my thoughts, I realized that it had been a significant year which made many special memories. This year has been the most personal and professional growth I've experienced in a short time. It's been one of the most vulnerable years in many ways. But it's also been among the most rewarding ones as well.
As challenging and intense as this year has been, I'm grateful for the people who have shown up as unexpected heroes, wellwishers and friends on the journey and who have helped me not only HONOUR who I am but also encouraged me to SHOW UP and SHARE and then remarkably held me accountable to CONTINUE to do so.
I only started to actively look back on how the year unfolded a couple of years back; trust me, it has brought a lot of clarity on the year that followed afterwards. For me, a year-end reflection has taught me many things I could do better with clarity in the following year and to feel grateful for what I had for that specific year. A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles, so start reflecting and cherishing how the year unfolded!
Thanks to my family, friends, teammates, champions, cheerleaders, and heroes! Words aren't sufficient to express how much I appreciate what you have done, your advice and your love. I am looking forward to what's in store for 2023!
Our experiences are built based on how we understand and reflect on things that happened. It is essential to explore and examine ourselves, our perspectives, experiences, and actions to help us with insights on how to move forward. . It is said that "Reflection allows the brain to pause amidst the chaos, untangle and sort through observations and experiences, consider multiple possible interpretations, and create Meaning. This Meaning becomes learning, which can inform future mindsets and actions".(According to HBR article by Jennifer Porter). Reflection helps to look back so that the forward view is even more precise.
The power of Reflection and its impact is visible from noticing how well Spotify Wrapped was received by the audience and became one of the most widely shared marketing campaigns globally. It reflected the listener's music habits squarely in the eye and helped to have to look at themselves.
For me, it was last year after coming across Dickie Bush's(Creator of Ship30for30)'s article on 21 questions to reflect on as we end 2021 and Sachin Ramje's epic one-pager that consolidated all the points I started to take reflections seriously. It encouraged me to write a full-length LinkedIn post on "Bookending 2021: My Year in a Review" and has brought me considerable clarity in what I want in 2022.
Image credits Sachin Ramje
As I was planning to write a similar bookending this year, it felt more relevant to help my community members reflect on how 2022 unfolded for them. Reading those stories would inspire me as I contemplated my 2022 journey in a one-pager 😊
I developed a quick guide that could help you if you want to set up your year-end Reflection - and need help figuring out where to start. You're in luck! In this guide, you'll see suggestions for setting up your space, questions for reflecting on the past year, and ideas for setting intentions for the coming year.
1) Before You Start: Set your Space
Before starting your self-review, create a comfortable, conscious space:
Set aside 1 hour and go to your favourite spot for inspiration -- you name it, it could be your workstation, coffee shop, a park, a lake or your balcony.
Leave your phone, laptop, etc., behind. Go tech-free so you can feel the experience of writing. It matters to focus entirely on the moment, so Digital Detox is highly recommended 😄
Once you arrive in your space, take a moment to focus on yourself. Listen to your favourite song, take 5 deep breaths, or open your favourite meditation app. You decide!
2) Reflecting Back
Once you're settled into your space, the questions below are the ones I've found most helpful in guiding my self-review and will also help guide yours. Feel free to go in order or jump around as needed.
Opening -- Who was I at the start of the year? What was happening in my life? How did I feel?
Proudest Moments -- Over this last year, what am I most proud of professionally? Personally? How did these moments feel?
Biggest Learnings -- What were my most significant professional learnings over the past year? Personally? How did these moments feel?
Priorities -- What was my top priority this year? Am I proud of this?
Reflecting on Work -- In my work, what did I love? Not love?
Reflecting on Family -- What did I love in my family life? What was difficult?
Reflecting on Relationships -- What was fulfilling in my relationships and friendships? Challenging?
Growth -- How did I grow this year?
People -- Who were the new people who entered my life? Who left my life? Why?
Gratitude -- What am I deeply grateful for? Why?
Knowing Thyself -- What did I come to understand about myself this year?
Bookending -- Where am I now at the end of this year? What is happening in my life? How do I feel overall?
Looking Forward -- What am I looking towards? What are my hopes for myself and my community in the coming 12 months?
3) Looking Ahead
Once you've reviewed your past year, it's time to vision and dream towards the upcoming one.
In the next year, I intend to...
Be...
Do...
Ask...
Live...
Lead...
Let go of...
Forgive…
Speak truth to...
Say yes to...
Say no to…
Above all else, I intend to….
4) Making Meaning
You've looked back, and you've looked ahead. Now, let's grab your ideas and insights!
What insights are bubbling up from your Reflection?
What are you getting curious about?
What would you like to explore right away?
5) Making Commitments
You've explored a lot. Grab one - and only one - a commitment you are willing to prioritize right now.
What is a commitment I'm willing to make right now?
Accountability: What do I need to achieve my commitments? Who will hold me accountable, and how?
6) What's Next? Make It Visible
Don't skip this step! Place your commitments in a visible place, on your vision board, on your desk, on a notion board, you pick!
My #2022Wrapped
I would be eagerly waiting to hear many stories on your reflections about 2022, and I hope this helped as a building block to initiate your thoughts! And here is mine, #2022Wrapped in a single page 😊
“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards ”
