2009 in Review
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)December 30, 2009 by Erin Casey
One of my New Year’s traditions (aside from eating black-eyed peas and watching movies with my family) is buying a fresh journal—even if all the pages aren’t filled in my previous journal.
For me, a new journal signifies a fresh start. I divide the first page of this virgin journal into four quadrants: Spiritual, Family, Personal and Career. In each of those quadrants, I write the “short version” of my goals (leaving space to add a few throughout the year). The next few pages are dedicated to clarifying those goals and mapping out my plan for achieving them. And because I keep my journal in my purse or backpack, my goals are always close at hand.
In “Gearing Up for a Great Year,” I shared some tips for setting goals (be sure to read it as you finalize your New Year’s resolutions and long-range goals). But today, before the New Year’s Eve celebration begins, before you (finally) kiss 2009 goodbye, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on what you accomplished this year as well as what regrets you may need to leave behind.
Here are a few questions and thoughts to consider as you wrap up 2009:
- Did you write down your goals last year? If so, look at them now. What can you mark off your list?
- What goals are you “this close” to accomplishing?
- List the achievements (completed in 2009) that are you most proud of.
- What happened in your life this year that you believe was out of your control? How did you handle it? What could you have done differently that would have improved the situation?
- How did you handle your finances in 2009? What could you have done to improve your financial security?
- What did you not do in 2009 that you wish you had?
- Are you satisfied with your relationships with your family and friends? If not, in what ways can you improve those relationships?
- What (if anything) has kept you from living your most excellent life? What can you do in 2010 to eliminate or work around that obstacle?
- Did you live with integrity this year?
Hopefully you’ve experienced more wins than losses and more successes than failures in 2009. Whatever your personal “report card” reveals, I hope your answers to these questions will help you begin anew in 2010 with clarity of purpose and pride in the woman you are—and the woman you are becoming.
May you live every day in 2010 with purpose and passion. Here’s to your success.
Loading ...
Great list!
Love your article! I looked at these questions yesterday and taking time to think about them and saying the answers outloud with someone felt great! I wrote down my goals this morning & I like your idea of carrying that journal with me!
Thanks for all of your great advice & inspiration through SFWmag.com! Wishing you good health, happiness & much success in 2010!
A brief artcile, Erin, but chocked full of thought-provoking and insightful processes for creating a new end-of-the-year “ritual!” For many of us, the last few days of the year can include those holiday-dampening thoughts of guilt about what wasn’t accomplished this year. As positive as I usually am about accomplishing what I could during the “closing year,” I have felt there must be a more effective way to “reach closure” and learn from my experiences. You have created a valuable process that helps one do that!
I also like your section at the beginning of your new Journal where you write the concise version of your goals, so that it can be both reviewed daily and handy wherever you are. I make a Vision Board, which is terrific, and write out my goals, but this is a great way to have a daily reminder! Thank you for sharing these terrific ideas, & here’s to our mutual success & happiness in 2010!