What a year... Let's reflect on the good and the ugly

This is the last news of the year, and what a year....

Today is the occasion for you (and me) to take stock and appreciate all that has been going on, good and bad. It is not because I prone and preach a positive outlook on life that I ignore the impact of setbacks and adversity. Actually, it is the capacity to face the fact that life has its ups and downs that helps me to have an optimistic or even an optimalistic approach to life. Let's use my SOS and 321 to reflect.

Success:

• I had the incredible opportunity to present Thrive to Perform at the European Conference of Positive Psychology (click to watch)
• My PhD is progressing slowly but surely, I'm 33.33% done
• I got accepted in an exclusive project auditing autonomy and responsibility in the French Educational system with the L'Institut des Hautes Etudes de l'Education et de la Formation (IH2EF)
• I signed a deal for Thrive to Perform to be delivered to high school students in the French National Education System
• I reached 14 000 followers on LinkedIn and engagement has been amazing
• My book is out in English (click to order)
• I got featured in Forbes, full page... and Entreprendre
• My Leadership and Psychosocial Development cards are out in 3 languages (Icelandic, English, and French) Promotion about to start ;-)
• I got accepted in 2 entrepreneurial programmes for 2025 and will be launching Positive Performances in France.
• 85% of the participants in the 2023-2024 study on Thrive to Perform say they're more productive at work and at school
• 63% of the same participants say the programme helped reducing their worries and negative thoughts
• I spent more time than ever with my siblings and family
• I spent more time than usual in Iceland
• I feel surrounded by friends and teams who believe life is worth living
• I met amazing people from horizons I did not expect to mingle with ever

Obstacles

• I broke my leg (for the curious a double fracture involving the calcaneus (heel bone) and a sesamoid bone).
• The loss of my mother was a profound heartbreak and a period of deep reflection
• Not enough time to do all I wish to accomplish
• Not enough money to invest in all the ideas, I have, research and development

Suggestions to Self

• Continue to follow your dreams, they truly know the way.
• Remain true to yourself; not everyone needs to approve of your path.
• Never stop learning; it fuels your strength.

321 And, now from another angle.

The 3 things I learned this year:

• As brutal as it may seem, I have always thought I wanted to drop dead and not be a 'burden' to my family. Experiencing the slow and very sad fading of my mother has taught me so many lessons that my view is changing.

It is not a burden. Although tough (toughest for her undoubtedly and my father) we, closest and wider family gathered, cherished life and created stronger bonds than ever; created memories that will last.

• I have learned to accept my purpose in life and now I need to build up courage to pursue it.
• This year, I received humbling feedback from students, partners and peers about how my actions and resilience inspired them. Hearing that my commitment to my purpose and my approach to challenges made a difference was both surprising and motivating. It reinforced the importance of leading with authenticity and integrity, while reminding me to continue learning from those around me.

The 2 things I liked or disliked

• I enjoyed the feeling of freedom and independence
• I appreciated collecting the fruits of hard work
• I hated realizing my parents are not immortal
• I dislike seeing the increased level of ill-being around me (in the world)

The 1 thing I will start / pursue / focus on

This is the toughest thing, choose only one thing and stick to it.

Yes, I admit my thing here is going to be a business thing.

My business mission is to help people to thrive ;-)

• My single new year resolution this year is to finish what I started. Consolidate the Thrive to Perform & Perform to Thrive Programme and get it to the maximum of people, students, teachers, managers.

To conclude and to be loud and clear, I don't want to make ripple,

I want to make a shock wave.

Now it’s your turn.

What are your SOS and 321 reflections?

Share your insights, and let's support each other in making our dreams a reality.

Together, let’s thrive and perform