What Choices Have You Made In 2020 To Improve?

Socrates is quoted as saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living." If he were alive in 2020, however, I wonder if he would add, "...unless it's 2020." Never before have I seen such a rush by so many people to put this year behind them. One friend of mine commented that they had put up their holiday decorations earlier than ever this year to focus on something else besides all the "bad stuff" that's gone on this year. So many of the conversations I have had in recent months include a phrase like, "We're hoping 2021 is a better year."

To be honest, if you have suffered loss or pain this year, or been one of the heroic workers in healthcare or public service, I can see why you'd like to have 2020 in your rear view mirror as soon as possible. I can not begin to imagine the massive physical, mental, and emotional overload you have experienced. I can't say thank you enough.

For the rest of us, however, I believe the end of 2020 brings the need for reflection on what we've learned about our work, our relationships, and ourselves. There have been so many moments when we have had to think, work, and live differently. Being forced out of our comfort zones causes us to have fresh perspectives, view others differently, and learn new skills. The question is, will these lessons be forgotten in the passionate pursuit to "return to normal" in 2021?

Being forced out of our comfort zones causes us to have fresh perspectives, view others differently, and learn new skills. The question is, will these lessons be forgotten in the passionate pursuit to "return to normal" in 2021?

What follows in this article is a list of 20 choices I recognize I've been faced with this year. Sometimes I made the right choice, and for others... well, let's just say experience is a wonderful teacher. My goal is not that this list become your tool of assessment for 2020, but rather that it, in the spirit of Socrates, spurs you to examine your own professional and personal choices. Most importantly, I hope that in your time of reflection you revisit what you learned in making your choices, and think about how you can put that wisdom to work for you in 2021... whatever it may hold for all of us.

Work

1. Radically change what it means to serve others well.

2. Let go of certainty and pursue clarity.

3. Make lots of new mistakes.

4. Invest more time in strategy work and less time in busyness or status quo work.

5. Learn at a level I never thought I'd need to at my age.

6. Be okay with "good enough" on certain projects.

7. Seek more collaboration with my peers.

Relationships

8. Grow away from toxic people.

9. Explore new ways to nurture my important relationships.

10. Find common ground on contentious topics.

11. Create more human connections in a virtual world.

12. Practice a higher level of empathy.

13. Listen deeply and without judgement.

Self

14. Be more self-aware of the overload in my life and what small steps to take to address it.

15. Respond on facts instead of reacting out of fear.

16. Get clarity on my goals and priorities.

17. Be more grateful.

18. Make long term investments in my health.

19. Invest in my personal growth and well-being every day.

20. Walk more closely with God, especially when I don't understand the world or the people in it.

What choices have you made this year that have taught you something about yourself? I'd love to hear them in the comments below or you can email me and share your thoughts.

________________________________________________________

Jones Loflin helps individuals make the best choices with their time so they can thrive. He is the author of several books, including Always Growing and the award-winning Juggling Elephants. Jones is well-known for his onsite and virtual solutions for individuals, groups and businesses dealing with leadership development, work-life satisfaction, and change. To learn more about Jones, go to www.jonesloflin.com