The Art of Wrapping Up the Year - Part I
Reflections - Expressions - Making a Difference
2024 is almost ending, and irrespective of how it’s been for you, it bodes well for you to look back and self-evaluate everything that’s been done or missed out, all lessons learned or mistakes made, moments shared, or opportunities fumbled upon.
This activity isn’t essential if you want 2025 to be a similar version of 2024. It is a waste of time if life is excellent and cannot get better for you. It is a naive thought process if your wisdom and inner peace are peaking and you see no end to their inflow.
If so, you belong to the 1% of 1% of all elite performers globally. Mortal souls like us are way down the value chain, hustling to build thriving careers and make things happen ;)
If you are like me, I have a few tips for making this self-evaluation exercise worth your time and energy.
There are three broad areas you can tap into, i.e., Think, Express Yourself, and Spread Joy. Let me elaborate on each -
Think
“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” - Henry Ford.
Thinking isn’t a simple endeavor because we have slowly turned from human beings to human doings. We are working, scrolling, acting on instructions, firefighting, making ends meet, reacting, acting on impulse, giving into feelings - doing something at all times.
If you had allotted any time of your day for plain thinking, then you might already be using that time to assess every batch of 24 hours. You may be asking yourself questions like -
What did I learn?
What did I accomplish?
What could I have done better?
What did I do to meet my goals?
What was a mistake I could have avoided?
Am I happy/proud about the day gone by?
What fears or emotions did I lose the battle to?
How did I deal with these fears/emotions to succeed next time?
Did I create systems/processes to become a 1% better version of myself today?
But life has found devious ways to keep us running from pillar to post daily, hence the need to take time out in December to think through these questions and answer them elaborately.
Don't half-ass it.
Go deep to explore every single question mentioned above before you even think of your goals in 2025.
If you’re the same person walking into 2025, then 2025 has no choice but to be a slightly better or worse version of 2024. And I hope you don’t want that. I hope you're aiming for a 2X - 10X of your 2024 accomplishments in 2025. It’s possible only if you think through the Operating System (OS) running your life daily.
Every OS needs a reboot from time to time. In December, it’s time to reboot and refresh your OS.
I will share Parts II and III in the next few days so that you have this three-part series to create a kick-ass 2025 that’s just around the corner. I will also share a few resources and tools that will help you think through and make changes that could be transformational for you in the future.
Till then, I wish you a fantastic day and a blissful weekend.
Sending you loads of love & luck 🧿
Manish