Reflections and Resolutions

The end of the current year and the start of a new one means it is time for a few things to happen. I take this time to reflect on how things have gone in the outgoing year. Rather than making resolutions, though, I set goals for myself in the coming year.

Reflecting on what has gone well is important. Celebrating accomplishments is good for self-esteem and can feel empowering. More than that though, it helps to focus attention and energy where it is the most effective. Reflecting means that one also examines what did not turn out as expected. Looking at what did not work allows a person to further explore why something didn't work and either let it go or make corrections, as the case may be. Letting go of something that didn't work is not the same as giving up. It's more about saying 'well, that didn't work, but it's okay' and then moving on. Reflecting on this at the end of the year is not rehashing mistakes either. It's just giving oneself a balanced and honest reflection of how things went over the past 365 days.

After examining what worked and what didn't, it's easier to know where you want the coming year to go. That's where the goals come in. Resolutions are great, as they can help with self-improvement. But resolutions tend to be rather vague, which makes them harder to stick to. Setting goals is more specific. In teacher-training programs, we're taught that goals (learning objectives) need to be concrete and measurable. While that doesn't always transfer to all areas of our non-academic world, it makes some things easier to manage.

So, practicing what I just preached, here goes. I released not one, but two new books this year. I also opened my online store, started this blog, and returned to substitute teaching. I'm not walking as well as I was before my injury, but I'm walking better than I was when I had the surgery. My goals are to start a new book, promote my books as well as my blog, and build my drawing skills so that I can do more work as an illustrator. On the recovery front, I am setting the goal of moving from the cane I currently use to a simple walking stick. And by this time next year, it is my goal that I will no longer need the cane at all.

Goal setting and reflection are natural in transitions. Transitioning from the old year to the new one is a great time to do both. Wishing all who read this post a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.