When was the last time you paused and reflected on how your year has gone? This does not refer to reviewing financial results or business successes. It refers to you. To your year. With these words, the author, mindfulness techniques and stress management teacher, Zee Clarke, introduced readers to the secrets of New Year’s wishes or, better said, wishing. The traditional New Year’s wish list and goals, as Clarke noted in her column on Fast Company, are rarely done correctly. This is precisely why by March, the goals of most people fall into oblivion. However, there is a solution, and according to Clarke, it is a practice she called ‘Top Five’. Namely, to start with the will to achieve goals in the coming year, one must look back and pat oneself on the back for the things that have been accomplished so far. Therefore, take a piece of paper in your hands and write down the answers to the following questions:
1. What are the five things you are most proud of this year?
As you think of your answer, consider different aspects of your life – career, finances, health, personal relationships, family, and community. Analyze why you chose those particular things, and then come up with a way to celebrate your own success. Also, find a quiet place, close your eyes, and invoke a feeling of gratitude for your achievements.
2. What are the five most valuable lessons this year?
In this exercise, include things that went well, but also those that did not, because it is precisely in failures that the greatest lessons lie. Think about how you can apply those learnings in different areas of your life and what specific steps you can take to avoid repeating the same mistakes or to improve your success. Thank the lessons as well.
