As we enter the 12th month of 2010, it is a good practice to review where we are and where we are going. I typically do a dive deep into this process between Christmas and the New Year. I try to take long walks each day, write in my journal, take notes, and generate ideas, which ultimately culminates into my 2011 plan. Everyone can benefit from some type of year-end review, the actual process is somewhat irrelevant.
As we enter the holiday season, these questions may jump start our thinking as we revisit 2010:
- How did we spend our time in 2010?
- What were our greatest accomplishments?
- What were our greatest disappointments?
- How did these experiences change us?
- What books, classes, workshops, or films moved us and why?
- How are we different in December 2010 than we were in December 2009?
- How can we integrate this awareness into our lives in 2011?
- What are we trying to unnaturally force to happen?
- What would happen if we let up on the gas and just leaned into the experience being offered to us?
Finally, as we begin to build our plans for 2011, consider these questions to help jump start the creative process:
- What are our primary focus areas in 2011?
- What are our real desires and what is holding us back in achieving these?
- What do we really want?
- What do we want to contribute?
- How will we hold ourselves accountable?
- At the end of 2011, where would we like to find ourselves?
- What is our intention for ourselves in 2011?
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery