How have you changed?

It's common to set 5-year goals. We're often encouraged to look to the future and imagine what we'd like to do, be, and have 5 years from now. It's a question I'm likely to ask when working with someone to set up a development plan for themselves and their career. However, how often do you think back on the last 5 years? How often do you reflect and ask yourself, how have you changed?

Crazy enough, the pandemic started just about five years ago. Five years ago was the autumn of 2019, right before the pandemic upended our lives. It's fair to say that living through that experience changed many of us forever. Now that we've had a little distance from the initial shock, I invite you to reflect on where you're at today and how you're different from before.

Perhaps the desires you have for your life and career have changed.

Perhaps your values have shifted in priority, making space for other values to come to the forefront.

Perhaps the skills you hold are different.

Whatever the case, I hope you take the time to check in with yourself today. Life moves so quickly that changes can often pass us by unnoticed. This is especially true when it comes to ourselves. It's not until we intentionally stop and reflect that we can appreciate how far we've come and how much we've evolved.

Take time for yourself today. You might find you're ready to map a course for the next five.

Self-reflection:

Where were you at five years ago?

What were your priorities, goals and values?

Who were you as a person, friend, professional, etc?

How have you changed?