Looking Back to Leap Forward - Annual Reflections

Hello friends,

Happy New Year to you! I hope that the start of this year has you feeling energized and looking forward to the possibilities of the year ahead. For me, there is something quite magical about a New Year. A new year brings the possibility of new beginnings, the opportunity for a do-over, and the chance to write a new chapter. My wish for you is that the year ahead brings you presence and clarity, as well as the courage and confidence to pursue more of the things that bring you love, peace, and joy.

This "looking back to leap forward" reflection exercise is an invitation to take time for yourself, to slow down, get clear about your own goals and priorities, and explore where you may be stuck or getting in your own way. What were the defining moments that propelled you forward last year? What do you hope this new year will bring into your life? What positive changes would you like to intentionally make? This exercise provides an opportunity for personal reflection, where you can consciously look back and determine what you want more of and what you want to let go.

For this reflection exercise, the directions are simple: Get comfortable, grab your favorite writing utensils, and reflect on and answer the questions below. You'll start by looking back, and then you can use these insights to determine your vision and goals for the year ahead. You can also download a PDF copy here .

A look back to 2023

Many would say, "Don't look back," but I find it to be an interesting exercise. When we look back, we can see how far we've come, and we can identify and acknowledge the things that gave us energy versus the things that depleted it. When we do this from a conscious and reflective state, we can course-correct and make different choices. Celia Ahern once said,?

“To look back, to go back, is not to be weak. It is not to reopen wounds. It takes strength, it takes courage. It takes a person who is more in control of who they are to cast a discerning, non-judgmental eye over who they once were.”?

Looking Back

1. My biggest accomplishment(s) in 2023
2. My biggest breakthrough(s)
3. The biggest obstacle(s) or challenge(s) I encountered
4. What I didn’t achieve that I had wanted to
5. Where I procrastinated / what I avoided
6. What I tolerated, and the cost of doing so
7. Where I sabotaged myself or got in my own way
8. What I would have done differently in hindsight
9. The biggest discovery, insight, or learning(s) I had
10. What lit me up and brought me joy
11. My happiest or fondest memory of the year?
12. What I am most proud of
13. How I’m different from a year ago
14. What I am grateful for
15. Conclusions (any key themes you’re seeing or additional reflections)

Looking Forward to 2024

“People spend too much time doing and not enough time thinking about what they should be doing” - Naval Ravikant

Now that you’ve had a chance to reflect on the past year, you can channel those insights into planning for your year ahead. Where would you like to be a year from now? Who do you want to be? What would it look like and feel like if your biggest goals were realized??

1. What matters most to me
2. What I want more of
3. What I really want to accomplish this year and what success looks like
4. What might derail me or get in my way
5. Strategies I can employ to navigate through them
6. What I want or need to learn
7. What I want to change or do differently
8. What I want to let go of
9. What I’m ready to claim
10. A healthy habit I’d like to start
11. The greatest gift I can give to myself
12. My guiding word, phrase or mantra for 2024 is
13. The 1-3 goals I will commit to
14. The tangible next steps I’ll take towards achieving them
15. Any additional reflections or thoughts

You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward. Just take the next step.”??- Anonymous

May this year bring you good health, much love, and happiness.?

About Emma

Emma is a certified Executive Coach and Leadership Development Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping leaders navigate complexity and change. Founder of Change at Play and Co-Founder of the Institute of Positive Leadership , Emma partners with leaders and teams to help them unlock their highest potential and drive meaningful change.