“In a world full of materialistic goods and gifts, perhaps the best gift you can give yourself is the gift of self-reflection”
I was at a fairly low key New Year’s Eve party. We were celebrating the incoming 2017 year with alcohol, board games and wistful conversations.
One of the questions I was asked was:
What have you accomplished in the past year?
The question was immediately overwhelming.
When asked to think about the happenings of last year, many people have a hard time coming up with anything. Their minds, usually moving furiously throughout the year, grinds to a halt.
However, it is absolutely necessary to reflect in order to grow.
You might be wondering what the point of all of this is. After all, it was in the past, so why does it matter now? Especially the not-so-pleasant events.
Focus on Your Strengths
Reflecting on the less-than-pleasant events is a reminder of our strength and our resilience. You sharpen your ability to overcome whatever life throws your way — no matter how difficult.
This doesn’t mean that you should look at a garden and say “there are no weeds!” It means that you should reflect on the times that you were able to see weeds and pull them out.
You shouldn’t harp on or obsess over the negative. Instead, we should simply remember the lessons these events taught us and that we came out stronger.
Focus on All That You Have
Reflecting on the positives is a reminder of what we have in our lives. A reminder that no matter how difficult things get, we still have much to be thankful for.
There is ample research on the benefits of gratitude for our health and well-being. Reflecting on the positives of the year that has passed also sets a positive tone for the year ahead.
And what about the mundane? Well, no matter how insignificant something may seem, the truth is that all of your experiences affect you without your even realizing it.
Your experiences shape you and lead you to where you are today. Even if you feel like nothing important happened this year, you’re still alive and you have come far. Subconsciously, the experiences of this year have enriched you in some way.
A Quick 20 Minute Exercise Can Help Kick off the Year the Right Way
Think back to each month of the year. Maybe even each week.
What were the highlights? Who did you meet? Where did you travel? What did you learn?
If you’re having a hard time remembering, look back at your calendars, emails, and social media posts from the past year. These don’t even have to be “big” accomplishments — they can be the simplest things, from having tea with an old friend to trying a new dish at a restaurant. You can think about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Think of anything that has some sort of significance to you.
Sample Reflection Exercise
So as we approach the end of this year, take a journey through the past year.
For each month, make a list of the places you went (near and far), the new people you met (digitally and in person), the old friends with whom you’ve reconnected, movies and/or TV shows you watched, small and large accomplishments, things that you learned, and the activities and events that took place.
Write out a few sentences that would summarize the month. Include pictures. Be creative with this process
(See sample attached)!
Engaging in creative projects is also positively correlated with better emotional, social, and academic/professional success.
You can do this activity by yourself, as a family, with your friends, or with your coworkers. Then at the end of each month, write “Still alive!”
Take note of how you feel once you’ve completed this project (and share your experiences in the comments).
Chances are you’re feeling a bit better about yourself than when you started.
Want to share a bit about your experiences and learnings from the past year with the world? Tag us in a photo of you completing the game on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook!
You can download your own reflection game sheets for 2016 here.
Or go even further and join Konversai — a social conversation platform that allows for live video conversations with anyone anywhere about any topic.
Konversai was founded on the notion that no matter who you are, you have valuable knowledge and experiences to share with others — knowledge and experiences that could significantly benefit someone somewhere else in the world. Users are encouraged to be both providers and seekers of knowledge on as many topics as they wish, and knowledge providers have the option of charging for their time.
So take the first step towards making your year and your life (and the year and the life of someone else) better by joining Konversai and by forming meaningful connections that will make a difference in the short and long run
