Reflecting Forward on the New Year
Whether the new year excites overwhelms or is something you are indifferent to, this moment is the only one before you with certainty.
A new year may be time to say goodbye and a time to say hello; it may simply be another day.
What does the New Year mean to you? Is it a time that excites you? Overwhelms you? Are you indifferent to the New Year and New Year’s resolutions?
There is more to the calendar changing than it being a single day, especially — if you operate on a financial year that follows the calendar year. My profession is cyclical and the new year marks a new beginning of an operating cycle. This cycle impacts me outside of the workplace.
After all, personal and professional me, while there is a variation, I am one person; I am one human who should be showing up with my whole self to the office or home. I can use this systematic process as a reliable tool for reflection and learning.
Time for Questions
January 1st marks a new chapter. The changing of the calendar can serve as just the catalyst needed to turn the page. For me, a new year is a time to recalibrate — and a time for questions.
The new year is a time to pause and reflect on my current path.
It is a time to ask myself whether or not I should keep travelling the same road.
What are my goals for the next 12 month period?
Perhaps the goals fit into a specific category, e.g. finance, health and fitness, specific challenges or adventures — or, perhaps they are more obscure than that. For example, last year I recalibrated to travel towards greater self believe-in.
By making reflection a priority, I am investing in myself and that is the ultimate form of self-care. I believe this is something that we all should be striving for.
“It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.” — Diane Von Furstenberg
What if we could do better?
What if we could try something new?
What if we could have more of what is working well?
What if … is a question we need to be asking ourselves more often in a context of appreciative inquiry and not a place of regret.
What if we gave time and space to identify what we want more of and how we will achieve it?
What if we stopped questioning our inabilities and focused on what we are capable of?
What is that you want to achieve?
What actions are you taking today to make you step closer to that reality tomorrow?
Making the Pause the Priority
I have a lot of questions, and no answers — just yet.
This is a part of the journey and how I am taking advantage of the change in the calendar to reflect — and ultimately, to learn, grow and evolve.
I know some focus on September 1st as a monumental day to recalibrate, as it is the start of the school year. If you are a parent, this has a significant impact on your routine and is often the logical time to do so.
Regardless of when it happens, I encourage you to take time to reflect forwards.
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
Reflecting Forwards
Being lifelong learners allows us to innovate and embrace change; to curate and inspire progress.
It’s human nature to learn — yet, we often cling like static wrap to what is more familiar and safe, which is often sitting in the past.
We catch ourselves looking backwards and questioning circumstances.
We cast doubt.
We fill ourselves with uncertainly and often avoid setting a new path forward often because we don’t reflect on the lessons learned.
It time to honour ourselves and the lessons learned by applying them to our future selves.
Adjust your path to obtain more of what you truly desire by reflecting and identifying what that is so that it not simply a figment of your imagination and becomes possible.
Reflect forward to make your desired path your reality.
Takeaway
Whether the new year excites overwhelms or is something you are indifferent to, this moment is the only one before you with certainty.
Breathe.
Take it in.
Embrace the opportunity to invest in yourself.
Special thanks to Sara Burdick for inspiring this piece with her article, Does Having Regrets Give You Hope For The New Year To Come?
Special thanks also to Winston for championing the Coffee Times publication and movement and Yana Bostongirl, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Dr. Preeti Singh, Drashti Shroff, Marrisa W. and Sharing Randomly for their tremendous efforts as editors of this publication.