As we are about to begin 2017, there are two directions we should look to make 2017 great. We should look both backwards and forwards.
Looking Back
Some folks only look forward. These folks try their hardest to forget or at least ignore the past. They may even claim to have no regrets. I believe these folks find themselves in a sense of repetition in their life repeating past scenarios and mistakes. A part of growing and learning is to look back and evaluate past successes and mistakes.
I propose you all look back at 2016. I find it particularly helpful to look back expressing gratitude for all the good that has occurred in 2016. Coming from a place of gratitude is so much more supportive for starting the new year.
Go ahead and make a list. Who are all the people for whom you are grateful? What happened in 2016 for which you are thankful? What are all the things in your life that are helpful or give you joy?
For some of you, this might be a challenging task. Maybe 2016 was a particularly tough year. I encourage you to do the exercise anyway. If this is you, exploring the things for which you are grateful can be an important part of your healing process.
Then I suggest you evaluate 2016. Without making it wrong or right or good or bad, ask yourself, “What worked?; And what didn’t work?” Some of these things might overlap with your gratitude list, which is great.
Looking Forward
Some folks only look backwards. These folks continually live in the past. Sometimes the looking back holds a negative focus on all the things that have gone wrong. Sometimes the looking back focuses on all the positive in a continual reminiscing. I believe these folks experience life as it happens to them. They feel largely out of control over their life, as there is little to no planning and intention for the future.
I suggest you look forward too. The looking forward is about clarifying your intentions for the year. When you don’t set goals and intentions for the future, you’ll end up living someone else’s goals and intentions.
Things in our world change pretty rapidly, so you might think it’s impossible to plan for the future. Perhaps this is true for very specific plans, but you can still set goals and intentions that are flexible. For example, you might be reluctant to set a goal to go to the gym 5 days a week, but you can still set a goal to lose 40 lbs by any means.
Make the your goals and intentions meaningful. When you declare your intention or set a goal, answer these questions to evaluate if the goal is a good one to go after:
- What significant difference will achieving this goal make in my life or in anyone else’s?
- Who else does it matter to?
- In what way does matter to these people?
- How will achieving this goal shape me as a person?
- What will it cost me if I don’t go after this goal?
In getting ready for 2017, I recommend you look back on 2016, as well as look forward for 2017.
