3 questions to ask yourself as you reflect on 2020

2020 was a challenging year for each of us in different ways.  For some of us it was overwhelming taking on teaching our kids while working full-time from home.  For others it was the feeling of isolation that grew as weeks of working virtually turned into months.

However, I believe there are some great things that have come out of 2020 as well that we can carry with us into 2021.  It is in moments of challenge and difficulty that we grow into better versions of ourselves.  It is not what happened but how we responded that determines who we are.

So as you look back on 2020 and prepare for 2021, ask yourself the following three questions:

1) What are some things you started this year that you'd like to continue next year?

For some of my friends and clients, they began cooking at home.  They worked out more frequently than before. For me, my family and friends began regular Zoom calls to stay in touch.  The technology had existed for years but it was the pandemic that triggered this new routine.

2) What did you learn from the biggest challenge you faced this year?

We all faced different challenges.  For me, it was not pandemic related.  Leia, my German Shepherd, was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy.  Once I emotionally processed the terminal diagnosis, my attention turned to caretaking.  I've never been the primary caretaker for anyone before.  My world became about Leia and her needs.  I learned patience and how to manage my own self-care.  Leia's condition has progressed and she no longer has use of her back legs.  So, I have to help her move around.  I have to take her outside.  It was a definite shift but I've learned so much.  And I was blessed that I was able to be home with her.

3) How are you closer to your best version of yourself? 

This may be a hard question for you.  You may be thinking that the pandemic completely derailed your plans for the year.  However, maybe like me, you learned patience and how to be a caretaker.  Or perhaps you were able to learn a new skill.  I was able to take a course on Visual Facilitation and learn how to doodle while strengthening my facilitation skills.  Its helped me become more creative and tap into the other half of my brain.  

I believe that reflection is the basis for planning.  We have to think about where we have been and how far we have come so we can think about where we want to go and how we will get there.