What you did this year (and why it matters)
Image: Matthew Joannan
Many years ago, I learned a practice that changed my life. As in 180 degrees.
That’s a bold claim, and it’s true.
Over the years, I’ve molded it, added to it and made my own year-end practice around it. I’ve shared it with friends and clients, and I invite you to create your version, too, and enjoy the results. It begins with a simple list. A success list of everything you’ve accomplished in the last 12 months. A little generosity and appreciation for yourself and your experience. And a little reflection.
Why does it work? There is nothing like a trip down memory lane to put you in the right frame of mind to plan, scheme, dream and design what’s coming up next for you. The self-acknowledgement is a key piece here, too.
I see people get stuck in the journey of designing (redesigning) their lives and their work for a few reasons. The first one is that they may not see themselves truly accomplishing what they set out to do. The second is that they’re not in the habit of taking stock of, acknowledging themselves for and celebrating what they’ve already accomplished. (And yes, these are connected.)
Research shows that reminiscing about positive events can increase feelings of happiness.
It can also help us solve problems, gain perspective and know ourselves better.
Reflecting on our successes — as we define them — also gives us a practical and healthy jump start on any goal-setting, planning or resolution-making we may be wanting to do. It’s not so easy to discount what you do and what you’re capable of doing when the evidence is right there in black and white. It’s hard to keep up an argument in your head when you're grounded in how it actually feels to accomplish something that's truly meaningful to you.
Want an easy way to savor and celebrate as we approach the year-end? Here’s the basics of my success list process. But have fun with it. How you savor your accomplishments is as individual as you are.
Start early.
December is a busy time, so it can seem like a chore to sit down and savor all that’s happened in the last 12 months. Who has time for a pat on the back when there’s so much to do, right? That’s why you want to keep a running list. Open a document or pull out a notebook in January and start. Add to it regularly throughout the year, and do a final sweep at year-end. If you like, use a whiteboard, Post-its, a “vision accomplished” board, art or some other visual option. Personally, I love doing this around the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Make yourself the only judge and jury.
Celebrating and savoring starts with your own definition of success. If it feels like an accomplishment to you, then it is. Put it on the list. Don’t sell yourself short. Maybe something seemed easy to accomplish because it called upon your natural strengths or you sought out help to make it happen. It goes on the success list. And reaching out for support you need to grow or understanding and developing your natural strengths — those are accomplishments for the list in themselves.
Begin with the big things.
This is the highlight reel. The big goals that you feel really good about reaching. The raise. The promotion. Getting your fitness on track. Crossing that trip to Italy off your bucket list. You know the ones. That will get the savoring and the self-reflection going. Follow up with whatever growth or accomplishments helped you to bring those things into reality.
Don’t forget who you’ve been.
How have you grown and changed this year, personally and professionally? Did you speak up for something important at work? Did you finally learn a bit of patience? Make important shifts in a relationship? Learn better communication skills? Excel at setting clear boundaries around your time and energy?
Include the ones that fell in your lap.
Chances are, even the things you intended but didn’t actively work for are important. Often, these are the sprouting of seeds that you planted at some point. Like the new client referral. The event that changed your perspective. The help that came out seemingly of the blue. The amazing opportunity.
Inventory your impact.
Where did you help others? What have you contributed to your communities and the environments you travel in everyday? What choices did you make that left a positive impact on others?
Spend time to savor.
In my years of coaching, I’ve noticed that this doesn’t come naturally to everyone. But trust me, the initial discomfort goes away quickly and the wellbeing benefits are well documented. Carve out a little time to re-experience and savor all that you have made happen this year. Read your success list and let it sink in. Celebrate, especially those items that feel really meaningful to you. Do something to acknowledge yourself and your successes.
Share it.
Find at least one person who champions you and supports you in being at your best, and show them your list. This might be your coach, your partner, a friend or family member, a colleague. Talk about it with them and invite them to make one of their own. If this is a practice you haven’t done before, I encourage you to give it a try and enjoy the nourishing power of positive conversations about what you are creating and why that is important to you.
Mine your accomplishments.
Now, look at your list again, with new eyes. What did you learn on the way to these accomplishments in your life and work? How did they happen? Who did you need to be to achieve these things? What lessons will you take on board as you set new goals? What worked and didn’t work?
Now — and only now — are you fully prepared and resourced to start planning for next year. With this foundation under you, chances are that you’ll be brimming with fresh enthusiasm and plenty of possibilities.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with the success list process. Tell me how it works for you.
