The Rear View Mirror

January is the traditional time when many people make ‘resolutions’ for the coming year.  I like the word resolution.  To me, it means a firm decision to do or not do something. One of its synonyms is ‘intention’ and I have a passion for living my life (personally and professionally) with awareness and intention.  But those of you who are familiar with my work (and blog) already know that!

Resolutions are personal and/or professional promises that we make, mainly to ourselves, for the year ahead that will help us to be both better and different in ways that are meaningful to each of us.  I think resolutions are a fine idea.  I am a ‘resoluter’, although I don’t limit my intentions to January alone.  But it’s hard to argue with the power that January brings to us – the New Year is fresh and alive with sparks of possibility and resolutions are an opportunity to project our power into the near future, gear up for greatness and pre-pave our experiences for the next twelve months.

So, while I think that committing ourselves to a select few resolutions each year can be a useful habit, there is another ritual that I practice at this time that provides even more value.  I have found that the end of one year and the beginning of another provides a perfect moment to look in the rear view mirror and thoughtfully, proudly, authentically and constructively review and then celebrate the past twelve months.  This ‘year in review’ habit that I have cultivated is one that I truly savor. Over time, it has:

·         yielded increasingly valuable insights;

·         allowed me to gain perspective on difficult moments;

·         forced me to acknowledge successes, even those that were originally disguised as challenges;

·         helped me to forgive myself and others;

·         piqued my curiosity & stoked my creativity;

·         launched me in new directions;

·         taught me beneficial lessons; and

·         gifted me with opportunities to mourn losses.

My look in the rear view mirror each year warms the soil for those fresh promises that I make to myself – and the virtuous cycle continues.

One of the most discouraging and dangerous laments that I hear too often from clients and colleagues goes something like this…”This all sounds good. I wish that I could do it. But I don’t have time to think!  I’m too busy getting things done to stop and think!” Before you blink your eyes and find yourself at the end of the first quarter of 2014, wondering what happened to those three months, schedule some ‘think time’ and take a long, appreciative look in your rear view mirror.  Connect your head, heart and gut and travel month by month back through 2013:

·         List all of the many, many things that went well (were right) during the year
·         Ask yourself what was the toughest challenge that you face. What worked? What didn’t?
·         Identify times/situations in which you demonstrated bravery or organizational courage
·         Think closely about your relationships. How many did you build? Mend? Harm?
·         Look for ways and times in which you surprised yourself
·         Focus specifically on lessons that you learned
·         Zero in on your proudest moment – What was it? Why are you so proud?
·         Get specific on all the ways in which you practiced everyday leadership – really led from your seat at work.  In the community.  At home.
·         Tell yourself the unvarnished truth about mistakes, snap-backs and other missed opportunities. What would you do differently if you had a do-over day?
·         Finally, ask yourself if you were true to the promises, the resolutions, which you made last January.

Looking back frees me to look ahead more confidently, more fearlessly. Your mom was right…look both ways…..