Reflection and Growth

January 1, 2019 is a new day, a new year, and a new opportunity. This is the time to look back and reflect on 2018 and also to look ahead and plan for 2019. You can look back at everything you experienced, whether it was positive or negative, the relationships you’ve built (or lost), the people you’ve invested your time into and the goals you achieved along with some setbacks. It’s important to reflect back because reflection turns your experience into awareness and awareness helps develop your personal growth.

Growth is not automatic, it has to be deliberate. You can’t stay status quo and expect to grow and develop. It’s an intentional investment into yourself. A commitment you have to make to improve YOU. No one can get you to where you need to be without your desire and commitment to grow.

As you leap into 2019, take this time to identify the areas you need to change, the people you need to surround yourself with and the places you would like to go. Set realistic goals with paths to help you get there. Many people are quick to set New Year’s resolutions but also quick to give up on them because either the goals were too unrealistic, too challenging, or just a dream that’s impossible to achieve. What good is it if you set goals but don’t put in the work or don’t have the necessary tools to complete those goals?

So today, set your goals, write them down with a pencil and instead of giving up on them when times get hard, erase them and modify them to what you can accomplish. Don’t let 2019 pass you by with regrets or a sense of failure, be specific in your goals, find the right people that can build you up and help you achieve them, and most importantly, set time for yourself to work on those goals, and lastly, be patient with yourself and your progress.