Birthday. Whether you like celebrating yours or not – most likely you will not forget the date when you turn a year older. Independent from all the rituals that you are following – or trying to ignore – the very date of your birth is present in your mind. And even if you are not much into celebrating your aging, every time you need to fill in your birth date in any form, you are reminded of the progress of time.
The days around the birthday are a good timeframe to pause your life and invest a few minutes into reflection.
Reflection of the past with all of your accomplishments, successes, losses and failures.
A sharp look at the here and now.
And an inspiring envisioning of the years ahead with so much potential for your dreams and hopes to come true.
Let’s have a look at these three perspectives and get some practical tips on how to actually invest in yourself during this time.
Reflection on the past
Let’s assume you are doing this on an annual basis, then you reflect only back on the last year. If you are at a major milestone of your life like 20th, 30th, 40th etc. birthday it might be worthwhile to take a longer timespan into account.
Take some paper and a pen, find yourself a cosy place and sit down. Calm down for a few moments and enjoy the very fact that you now invest in one of the most important people in your life – yourself.
You are the starting point
Start by drawing a person in the middle of the paper or by writing your name in the midst. You are the starting point – and from there the mind-map-style starts. Now start to write areas of your current life situation around you – you might want to circle them if you are a more creative person.
Here are some ideas: family, friends, job, sports, health, career, relationships, emotional well-being, social work, hobby
Take at least 4 areas of your life that you want to reflect on. And be bold. Take also those areas where you like to be more fulfilled or more successful.
How are you doing?
If you have defined your areas you want to focus on, write to each area what you liked during the last year. Where have you been successful? What did you achieve? What made this area of your life special in the last year?
If you are unfamiliar with writing stuff about your life on a piece of paper, you might want to start by taking a few notes and the further you get start writing sentences. Add to each event or bullet why it is on your list and how you currently feel about it.
When you are done with positive things, start to write down also the bad experiences. What didn’t work out? Whom did you lose in your life? Where did you fail? Be honest to yourself and admit how you are feeling.
Side note for business people: Emotions are valuable indicators where you are currently at - and if you need change. Admit when you are feeling sad, frustrated, angry, disappointed. Although it is uncommon in the business context to talk about feelings, it is a real asset when you check on your emotional well-being every once in a while. If you are happy on the inside, it is most likely that you will display the happiness on the outside and be even better in your business tasks at hand. Unluckily this is true vice versa.
One year on a piece of paper
Now look at your mind map. How do you feel?
Since this is a practical guide and not an entertainment text, I just take the freedom to ask you again: How do you feel when you see your past year?
What would you like to take with you into the next year?
What served you until today but now needs to leave? Say goodbye to these habits / situations / emotions. It’s just the right time.
Here and Now
Take a moment to be proud of yourself! You just revisited the last year, showed gratitude for your successes, looked at some unpleasant moments, said goodbye to a few things. For your soul it’s like the clearance of the basement. It isn’t the most entertaining thing to do but it creates room in your mind for new things. Well done!
I can see you smile. That’s good.
Let’s dive into your future.
Envisioning the future
A new year lies before you. How do you want to use it?
Check on the categories of your mindmap again. Which category should stay and which one(s) leave? Is there any other area that you want to add?
When you are done with setting the scene, write to each area what you would like to achieve. Which area should be your focus on? Where do you need growth? What area do you enjoy most?
I like to encourage you to get a little crazy and visionary in this moment – reality will settle in soon enough. Write down all the things you like to be doing. What makes your heart leap?
Remember, you are the game changer of your everyday life. Take your annual pause to reflect the past year and adjust your priorities to make sure that the upcoming year will be enjoyable.
