As a professional business coach with a whole-life approach to coaching, I want to emphasize this end-of-year time as a unique opportunity. Normally, I would tell people to think about the current year and assess how it went using our 7Fs of True Success model. I’d encourage them to evaluate their progress in the areas of work, finances, family, faith, fitness (emotional and physical), fun and the fusion of all these.
But as we end this year, I think we must consider the last two plus years during our reflection. In more than 40 years in business, I’ve never, ever, seen so much change in such a short period of time. Some good, some bad and some yet to be determined.
I think it’s safe to say all this change has resulted in an emotional rollercoaster for many of us. These past few years have been hard.
In fact, mental health seems to be the number one topic on so many people’s minds. (Our fitness goals in the 7Fs model have always addressed both physical and emotional health, but it’s never been more important—for people of all ages.) I recently saw a report from the Pew Research Center that said 70% of teens across all genders, races and family-income levels say that anxiety and depression are significant problems among their peers. For more on this, go to Generation Z and Mental Health.
Personally, this is why I think we should reflect not just on 2022 but also on what happened in 2020 and 2021; Covid has changed us all so much.
So, as you consider what’s happening in your life—both personally and professionally—ask yourself a few thought-provoking questions:
- What do you want to do more of? What do you want to do less of? And what do you want/need to stop doing altogether? (I put this question to my executives every year.)
- How would you assess your professional, personal, and physical wellbeing and energy levels? Are you fully charged and ready for a new year? Or are you only half full or even empty? If so, what do you want to do about that? What would make for a healthier body and lifestyle?
- How healthy are your personal and professional relationships? Do you have a support group that is respectful; that really supports you; and gives you honest, usable feedback? Living in isolation can be painful and, at times, harmful.
- As you approach the holidays, what are you truly thankful for? Why? How do you build on that thankfulness in 2023?
Take time, right now, to reflect on these and other questions that are important to you. Spend some time in solitude so you can silence the crowd noise and hear what’s really on your mind, what’s affecting your body and what matters to your soul. Let your subconscious talk to you.
Doing this will help you do what you do better in the coming year.
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