Pause to Celebrate You

Are you taking time to reflect on your growth and wins this past year? 

In this article, if you keep reading, you'll discover three steps to ensure you pause to celebrate your achievements and set yourself up for the most amazing year ahead!

This is important because you are likely celebrating others including your team, clients or family.  In fact, prioritizing others might be a familiar pattern for you.  But taking the time to reflect on yourself is an investment that positions you for continued growth in the year ahead and to show up as your best self for others.

Three steps to celebrate you

Here are three steps to ensure that you are pausing to reflect on your achievements this past year. And don't wait until the last minute! It's important to make the time before the year ends on December 31st. Once the new year starts, you'll want to be focused on the new year and climbing to new levels of achievement. Now is the most important time to reflect on the past year.

Step 1

Schedule an appointment with yourself. Yes, go to your calendar and block a time, free of distractions. This will ensure you take a pause for yourself. My recommendation is to set aside a minimum of thirty minutes. For example, I blocked one hour for myself for this exercise.  And if you feel like you don’t have enough time for this, then let this serve as a wake-up call to make yourself a priority. I encourage you to make the time, even if you have to get up earlier than normal!

Step 2

Honor your appointment with yourself and show up!  Look through your calendar or journal to reflect back to each month or quarter.

Questions for reflection

Here are four questions for you to reflect on, both personally and professionally. And remember that your focus is on YOU. And let me emphasize, this is not selfish. In fact, this is important personal and professional growth. Acknowledging and celebrating yourself allows you to reflect on the past year and usher in the new one from a place of awareness and strength.

Question #1:  What are you most proud of? 

Question #2:  What was your most important learning? 

 Question #3: Are you generally going in the right direction? Is your trajectory on the right path?

Question #4: What is no longer serving you? What do you need to let go of?

After you've reflected on these questions, you're ready for the most important step.

Step 3

The third step is to acknowledge yourself - your growth and achievements. Celebrate you. Give yourself an imaginary gold medal, high five or share this experience with a loved one or trusted friend who will celebrate with you. And if you fell short of achieving your goals, remember there is always something to celebrate. It's a matter of perception.  When I did this exercise and reflected back on my year, I realized that my biggest mistakes contributed to my most important learning and insights!

And use this time of self-reflection to set yourself up for positive momentum for the new year and prepare for an amazing year ahead. 

Progress not perfection

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal”  explained Earl Nightingale.

Once you've assessed the past year, then - if you haven't already - be sure you are clear about your goals for the new year.  And don't wait until New Year's Eve!

I urge you to pause to make time for this important self-reflection. Your success starts inside of you. Celebrate YOU!