We await the arrival of a new year: a new beginning, a new opportunity and a blank notebook to fill, while we say goodbye to twelve months that have left us with a lot of learning experiences on a personal, social and spiritual level.

What do you see when you look back? What do you remember about this year that is coming to an end? When you introspect, are you focusing on the bad experiences or the good ones? Do you recall that family reunion, or maybe that book that left you with such a good taste? That afternoon at the cinema or perhaps that encouraging email from your boss? It is important to reflect and ask ourselves the right questions after what we have experienced and accomplished this year. We can even learn good lessons from our bad experiences and we can notice what are the ones that bring us more joy so we can find time in our agendas in order to plan more of those experiences.

 

 

In his article, David K. William urges us to continually ask ourselves questions that provoke personal introspection, which will help us create a basis for a happier life, full of purpose and meaning.

K. William mentions that “The Law of Cause and Effect states that if you put out good thoughts accompanied by good actions, you will receive good things. Asking yourself thought-provoking questions cultivates good thoughts and allows for self-reflection. It helps you maintain a conscious awareness of where you are, where you have been and where you intend to go. Through self-reflection you are able to see, organize and preserve your dreams, desires, and goals. This conscious awareness is vital in life and opens doors for many good things to come your way. If you would like to maximize the benefits of self-reflection, ask yourself questions that provoke your mind and force you to reconsider the way you live and the way you look at the world. The best questions to ask ourselves come from a new perspective and remind us who we are and who we aspire to be”.

We read a few articles with amazing thought-provoking questions and we put together a list of 10 questions for you. There is no right or wrong answers. Asking them is the answer itself.

 

• What small act of kindness was I shown, that I will never forget?
• In my mind, what does a “happy life” looks like?
• Am I doing things for instant gratification or am I being forward-looking?
• What would I really do if I didn’t worry about opinions or judgment?
• When was the last time I encountered a frustrating situation and what did I do to make it better?
• When was the last time I solved a tough problem and what did I learn from it?
• What am I more afraid of? Failure, or the regret of not trying?
• What am I doing about the things that matter most in my life? If I look into my agenda, what’s there: activities or experiences?
• When did I last push the boundaries of my comfort zone?
• To what degree have I actually controlled the course my life has taken?

 

 

Now that you have done some introspection on your life and what’s important to you, let’s plan next year’s goals. Darren Hardy, CEO of Success Magazine, provides some tips on how to plan after you have done some self-examination and inventory of gratitude.  Do not allow the complexity or intensity of the planning process to prevent you from making plans at all. You have to know WHY you are setting your goals before you get lost in the HOW of achieving them.

 

Who do I need to be in order to achieve my main goals for next year?

• At the end of the day
• At the end of the week
• At the end of the month
• At the end of the quarter

 

When goal-setting, make sure you look for the why, the how, the what, the when, and the rewards and consequences of each goal.  Search the opportunities, open your mind to the possibilities ahead and go beyond your limits.  Set your goals and start taking the steps towards conquering them!

 

 

«Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.» ~ Henry David Thoreau

At Trinus we wish you a New Year filled with happiness and prosperity!