To paraphrase (badly) Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged, that the end of the year brings introspection.
Let's not get into new year's resolutions, which almost always begin with enthusiasm and end in ignominy. But it may be salutary to assess what you have learned from the past year, and celebrate, recalibrate and plan for the following year.
Find some free time and ask yourself these questions - and write down your answers.
The past year:
What were my biggest successes in 2014? What were my biggest setbacks? (Keep both to a maximum of three.)
What are my biggest strengths? How can I leverage these strengths in order to overcome challenges?
What did I learn in 2014?
What did I lose track of in 2014? (These could be relationships or commitments.)
The coming year:
Looking forward for 2015, what will make it a successful year for you? (You need to define success in order to set goals and know when you've arrived.)
What needs to be cleared up?
What relationships require your focus?
Having answered honestly the above questions, you may wish to revisit your answers at least quarterly during the coming year to measure your progress. And remember, success means many things to different people.
Happy holidays!
