One of my favorite December songs is “Happy Xmas” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The lyrics start with
“So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun.”
Every year when I hear this song, I taught myself to reflect on what “I had accomplished and whether I accomplished the most important things in terms of what I set out to do. There is not a better time for reflection than at the end of something and the beginning of the new. I know you might be thinking that there just is no time for reflection. However, if time is not set aside for time reflection, there is a risk of moving into 2025 without a solid evaluation of what is working and what is not. Reflection is a valuable practice that involves thoughtful consideration and contemplation about one’s experiences, actions, or beliefs. It plays a crucial role in personal and professional development, helping individuals gain insights, learn from their experiences, and make informed decisions.
Reflection is an important component of how adults learn. We learn not only from our experiences but also from the interpretations and reinterpretations of those experiences. When we pause and reflect upon circumstances and then apply a different framework to circumstances, new ways of acting and thinking are created. Using the process of reflection and introspection on an on-going basis leads to increased levels of awareness, insight, and self-acceptance. Many times, these moments of reflection can result in epiphanies from which new thoughts and behaviors can be chosen. Mezirow’s seminal work with Transformative Learning Theory highlights reflection, particularly critical reflection, as the core mechanism for adult learners to challenge and change their existing perspectives and assumptions. Transformational learning occurs when individuals critically examine their meaning perspectives (broad worldviews) and meaning schemes (specific beliefs, values, and attitudes) in response to new experiences or disorienting dilemmas—situations that make their current perspectives inadequate.
What is your process for reflection and self-evaluation? If you really have not given it much thought in the past, a few ideas for reflection are included in this blog.
Personal Growth: Reflection also provides pathways for personal growth. Dr. Richard Boyatzis shares in his intended change theory that it begins by identifying our ideal self and then comparing that self to our real self. Our ideal self contains our dreams, aspirations, and direction for these inspirations. When we let ourselves go in the direction of our dreams, amazing things can show up in our lives.
Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses: By reflecting on your experiences, you can identify both your strengths and areas where you can improve. This self-assessment is essential for setting realistic goals and working towards continuous improvement. Again from Dr. Boyatzis, this exercise is meant to be realistic about what will assist us in reaching the ideal state while removing challenges to activities that will take us there. To identify both strengths and weaknesses of a given action, Chip and Dan Heath in “Decisive” suggest that we conduct pre-parade/post-mortem. The questions we can ask ourselves or our team are “What will make us wildly successful if we pursue this path? Conversely what might cause us to fall short of the goal?” In assessing both the opportunity and challenge we surface what we need to focus on for success.
Learning from Mistakes: Reflection provides an opportunity to analyze mistakes or failures without judgment. It enables you to understand what went wrong, why it happened, and how you can avoid similar situations in the future. Many people struggle with the term “mistake” because too many use the term to beat up on themselves. Amy Edmundson shares that many times we are embarrassed by our failures which leads to us also focusing negatively on ourselves. What if we could accept that what we were attempting to accomplish did not happen the way we wanted it to and we simply adjusted our sails?
Critical Thinking: Reflection encourages critical thinking by prompting you to analyze situations, consider different perspectives, and evaluate the consequences of your actions. Shane Parrish in “Clear Thinking” encourages us to reflect upon all options and not simply door number one or two. We tend to be biased when we only surface two options for moving forward. Something you can integrate into reflection for 2024.
Journaling: Dr. James W. Pennebaker is a researcher who has written extensively on journaling. His work has significantly contributed to the understanding of how journaling and expressive writing can benefit individuals’ mental and emotional well-being. Mindfulness, feedback from others and structured reflection are other ways that we can use reflection as a tool for growth in 2025.
This blog cannot end without a reminder that the end of the year also brings us to a time for celebration. Celebrating success is a crucial and enjoyable part of achieving your goals. It not only acknowledges your hard work but also provides motivation for future endeavors. How do you celebrate your success? In a recent meeting with leaders within an organization I work with, leaders were asked how they celebrate. Many did not have a response. When we asked “why,” a couple of obstacles were shared. The first obstacle was there was not enough time. Celebration requires planning and typically ends up at the bottom of a list. They also shared that they sometimes hold back celebrating until projects are completed and goals are met. Their thinking was that celebrating too early could lead to a loss of momentum. There have been numerous articles written about the importance of rewarding ourselves when we are making progress, not just at the point of completion, and that this celebration actually builds momentum. John Norcross in “Changeology” shares that early on in reaching milestones, rewards need to be immediate and intense while later in a more stabilized change effort rewards are more meaningful. Remember that celebration is a personal experience, and what matters most is that it feels meaningful and fulfilling to you. Taking the time to celebrate success not only boosts your morale but also contributes to a positive mindset and a sense of accomplishment.
As you prepare for 2025, think about reflection and celebration. One of the best ways to create our future is to leverage what we know about our past successes! Reflection and celebrations can help to rewire our brains so that our focus is on what leads to success rather than what is missing. Shawn Achor in “The Happiness Advantage” relates that this rewiring creates what he calls the positive tetris effect and sets us up for happiness, gratitude, and optimism. As you are making plans and setting goals for 2025, make sure you build in time for reflection and celebrations!