"Go For the GOLD" JUMP START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH A REVIEW OF YOUR OLD

Don’t start the self defeating habit of looking at all you didn’t do last year. With an extremely biased and critical eye we evaluate our eating habits, our overspending habits, or all the ways we feel stuck in the same old ruts. As a result, we feel we should lower our expectations for the year to come. Successful businesses know the power of the year- end review. Just living through experiences doesn’t necessarily allow us to reap their maximum benefit. We need to recall them and celebrate the growth they have fostered. The following are 7 jump- start steps to help you build on your success and accomplishments of last year.

Step One – Create a list of your major personal wins of the last year.

Use your calendars, diaries or other records to jog your memory. Include all of the important areas of your life: family, friends, finances, hobbies, personal development and career. Your list could easily average 10 – 20 wins.  Examples: I got a new job. I organized a silent auction at church.

 

 

Step TwoDon’t forget a list of your “emotional wins”.

Research suggests that our “emotional quotient” has a far greater impact on our life than our intelligence. This means that our achievements in developing new or stronger emotional skills deserve to be counted – even though no one may know about them except you. Examples: I created a presentation for management and didn’t get extremely worried about it. I didn’t take comments said to me at work personally… I just let them go. I became more patient with my children at meal times.

 

Step Three – Give yourself credit for your persistence.

Yes, results are important and your goals were achieved. But, just as important is your persistence in reaching your goals. Maybe you tried quitting smoking for the past 5 years on New Year’s Day or you told yourself you would start exercising 3 times a week for the past 3 years. Maybe this past year you finally committed and persisted and did it. Give yourself credit for your persistent practice of your new behaviors.

 

 

Step Four – Tame your inner critic and act like a winner.

We all had plans and goals that somehow missed their mark last year. Maybe you got stuck or never even started. So what! This year acknowledge and encourage yourself for what you have done, DO NOT GRADE yourself on your performance. Remember winners focus on their successes not their failures. Replace your negative thoughts like, “I didn’t do my Web site,” with “What do I need to do to improve my chances of getting a Web site done this year?” Remember my favorite three actions – Do It, Dump It, or Delegate It!  I will let go of:

 

Step Five – Have family and friends add to your “WINS list”.

Ask your family and friends, What did you see as my biggest accomplishment(s) of the past year? Is there something you noticed about me in the last 12 months that you consider a change for the better? I guarantee you will be delightfully surprised by what they see.

 

 Step Six – Put your review of your year wins in a form that will make you want to celebrate.

For example, if you are a visual person, maybe creating a poster of your wins for your bulletin board or refrigerator. Or, maybe you just want to create a folder in your computer titled “My Wins” and add to your list each year. Do whatever will motivate you the most and “feel” your success.

 

Step Seven – Celebrate your wins.

Make plans to celebrate. Buy yourself a gift, or schedule a pamper break like an hour of reading, a massage, or manicure. This may seem like a step you could skip, but it is more important than that. Focusing attention on what you’ve done and celebrating it helps you focus your attention on what you’ve done well and prevents you from falling into the trap of negative thinking from your inner critic.

6 thoughts on “"Go For the GOLD" JUMP START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH A REVIEW OF YOUR OLD”

  1. Hi Chere!
    I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. Then, I read this blog post…what an inspirational thing to read first thing this morning. This is exactly the motivation I needed today. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and encouragement! Miss you!

    Stephanie

    1. Stephanie, great to hear from you. Focus on goodness and the beauty and abundance of your last year and this year will be even more abundant…no need to worry about goals yet or New Year’s Resolutions

  2. Thanks, Chere for the reminder to look at “the inches of progress” we did make. It helps in looking at the “feet” of work ahead of us this year. Your words buoy my spirit.
    Happy New Year to you!

    1. one little step at a time creates big results..keep your eye on your prize..have to relfect and think..what is “your prize”

  3. I love this blog post Chere! You are so inspiring and truly are a gift. Hadn’t thought about celebrating my wins until reading this, and I will be, because there is a lot to celebrate! Unending gratitude for you.
    Jen

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