Do You look back?

Damn I like slow Sundays. Especially this one, the first one of the New Year, because for the first time ever, and probably contrary to the current trends, I decided, to not only do some planning on 2022 but to also reflect on the year that has just passed. Actually, not only that - I invited my fiancee to do it together which made the exercise and this day even better ??.

Being an overthinker and a recovering perfectionist that I am ?? (which is 1 of the things I'll continue to work on improving this year) I was used to digging too deep into my thoughts and experiences rather staying more in the present moment and getting myself into a rabbit hole of negative thoughts.

However, as I am learning to become a certified coach - I have been working on consciously shifting my focus forward and not looking back that much, so I stay more mindful and focus more on finding actions to take in the situations I am facing right now instead of ruminating on what didn't work and getting myself stressed out about this or the other that didn't go as I planned or intended.

So in order to have less of the above this Year - I wrote up 3 goals I want to guide my focus in 2022. I have not written them down in a very detailed manner, with strict deadlines, concrete steps to take or as OKRs, but merely as directions I want to set my mind to this Year. And I highly recommend you to do the same. As I do believe when we set it like this and not some list of resolutions - it's more likely to work, - but I'll have to wait and see for myself still (first time ever doing this, remember? ??).

As 1 of goals was to focus more on my health, after a discussion with my fiancee - we both even signed up for the swimming class, starting tomorrow 7:30 - as there was finally a spot open in the swimming-pool! - just to remember 2hrs later that we cannot yet go tomorrow, because I'm still recovering from the sudden microsurgery I underwent a 3 weeks ago and my fiancee is having back problems for a week .. ?? That's how pumped up about making some changes this year we are (yes, still are, not were!) ?? ?? !

We had a good laugh and then I remembered a phrase by Steve Jobs which I love as I see my way of life as connecting dots :

You can only connect the dots by looking backwards.

So we did some Year-in-Review, cause oh what a Year 2021 was, right? ?? I want to share a few of the learnings with you that I noticed when looking back at my last year:

• After having longest ever vacation to recover from burnout I joined a company where quite some challenges presented themselves, calling out my negative self-talk and doubts, however I'm determined to apply the lessons I've learnt so far and keep growing in order to overcome any challenges I might face. As long as I remember to have my own back first.
• I became a mentor (thus the picture in the cover ??). I finally started feeling strong enough about myself as a professional to start sharing my experiences in order to help others grow too. That's how we also started a podcast with The Mentor of the mentors - Saulius, which sth I wanted to try out for a while and was happy to learn that it created some value for the people around me and I really enjoyed and didn't stress about sharing my experiences!
• As I became stronger and started sharing my professional experiences more - I also became more self-aware. I realised that there are a lot of things I don't know yet too and that it's ok. So I started asking for help more often (which is still more often than not is sth a lot of people struggle with I find). I want to thank everyone who answered my call of help - really appreciate You! ??
• I started learning coaching with aspiration to become a certified coach this year. This is sth I've been thinking for quite a while and finally committed to. And oh what a joy it is to see that it creates value for the people I have already had coaching conversations with. Moreover, it's bringing me closer to my true, loving self which is a side-effect I appreciate a lot, even though it is uncomfortable sometimes.

Do You look back and reflect? I think that looking back is useful not only at the very beginning or end of the New Year, but more often - like quarterly, monthly, weekly, or even daily (which is another thing I'll try out this year and have never done before, but am excited to try and hope will hold enough commitment for throughout the year) in order to connect my dots and move forward with more clarity, focus and peace of mind.

So I want to wrap up with 3 questions for You to think about:

• What's the main positive take-away You want to have from 2021?
• What do you want to let go of, release and not take to 2022, looking back at the year we just left behind?
• What are Your top 3 goals for this Year?

Thank You for reading and let's make 2022 even more awesome than 2021 has been, because we all are our own change-makers !??