“There are strange days
Full of change on the way
But we’ll be fine, unlike some
I’ll be leaning forward, to see what’s coming
Looking forward, looking back
I’ve come a long way down the track
Got a long way left to go
Making songs, from what I know”
Slim Dusty’s words from his 2000 release (OMG! 24 years ago!?) Looking Forward, Looking Back are never more appropriate than for our world. Change is constant and will continue to reshape our world and ourselves.
So, how are you travelling? How you are positioned for the journey which is 2024?
The best way to be “match fit” for the coming years is to learn the lessons of 2023 and apply them this coming year. And the best way to learn these lessons is to ask ourselves a series of reflective questions. These questions serve as powerful tools to gain insight, foster personal growth, and set the stage for a more purposeful future. Now let’s get reflecting!
In 2023, at a personal and professional level, what am I most proud of? When you reflect on 2023, what was that stand-out moment or event when you said to yourself, “Wow – well done me!” Picture it, remember it, feel it. What was the scenario? What were the pressures? What options were presented to you? What decisions did you make? And how did it feel once you’d taken action? Let your reflections simmer for a moment and feel the endorphins take over! Grab onto what you’re feeling and write it down! Your reflections about what you are most proud will be the basis of your life’s gratitude journal and will be valuable as you face challenges in 2024 and beyond.
A fulfilling life is about growth, which is partly the ongoing journey of self-discovering. So, in 2023, what did you learn about yourself? What were your triggers, your reactions and the strategies that worked and didn’t work? Of the strategies that worked, how can you inoculate them into your life? Do these strategies encourage you to make better decisions and choices? Of those that didn’t, what options exist?
What goals and dreams did you achieve last year? Did you set goals those goals? What can you learn about that process? Did they contribute to a better way of life for you and your extended world? Did those goals achieve what you intended or can they be altered to ensure they do contribute to a better life for you?
Thinking about your goals from last year and their effect, what could you keep, start and stop in this coming year? Would you have done anything differently about your goals from last year?
Just as important as goal achievement is the question – What goals or dreams remain unfulfilled? Not every goal set at the beginning of the year may have been realised, and that’s fine – don’t beat yourself up about their lack of realisation. But ask yourself the question – why were they not realised? A lack of attention? Care? Changed priorities? A lack of skill or competence? Understand the reasons and do something about them. That’s the good thing about being an adult: we all have the ability to write our own story – if we want to!
How did your priorities evolve throughout the year? After thinking about your realised and unfulfilled goals and dreams, review the goals and priorities you set at the beginning of 2023. Were they aligned with your values and aspirations? Analyse how these priorities shifted over time and explore the reasons behind those changes. This reflection can illuminate shifts in your perspective and help you realign your goals with your evolving values.
What were the prime developmental experiences you had in 2023? What skills and competencies did you gain from these experiences? Why and how? Hard skills or soft? Did you intend to gain these competencies or did they just happen? What are the skills and competencies that you wish to develop in 2024? What developmental opportunities will give you them? These opportunities may be in the form of training programs (in-person and online) but are more likely through participating and reflecting in work and life projects (there are plenty of them), as well as volunteering in appropriate extracurricular activities. Seek to take personal responsibility for your competencies and just wait and observe what opportunities open up for you- the universe operates in mysterious ways!!
What relationships enriched your life, and which ones needed attention? No person is an island and at times life can get messy – and our relationships with work colleagues, personal friends, or family can get bruised. Our connections with others play a pivotal role in our overall well-being. Identify the relationships that brought joy, support, and growth into your life. Additionally, reflect on any relationships that may have become strained or neglected. Consider how you can nurture and strengthen these connections moving forward.
How did you nurture your emotional adaptability and resilience? Anyone who knows me knows that I place much emphasis on the message of adaptability and resilience – look after yourself in order to look after your family, your mates, and your world. But it all starts with taking personal responsibility to looking about yourself first. What brought you joy in you 2023 and how can you build on this in 2024?
In what ways did you contribute to your community or the broader world? The benefits of volunteering are often greater for the volunteer than those who they are volunteering for. It gets you out of your own world and builds perspective. If not so in 2023, get involved with your community in 2024!
How can your 2023 lessons shape your 2024?
In the final analysis, consider how the experiences and reflections of 2023 can inform your path forward. Review your answers to these ten questions. What are some of the things or activities you want more or less of, and what are you happy to have continue? What changes in mindset, behaviour, or priorities are required to achieve this? Use these insights to set meaningful intentions for the coming year, fostering a sense of purpose and direction.
There are many more questions that could be asked, but these are 10 of the best. The critical message is not to let the lessons – be they good, bad and, at times, the downright ugly be lost – you paid the ticket for the experience, so you might as well use them for the ride in 2024!
