In order to embrace the new, we must create a process to release the old. A trapeze artist cannot swing to the next bar without releasing his grip on the bar that is currently keeping him safe.

An important part of preparing for the New Year is to review the past year—release it—and to learn from it so you can have your best year ever!

Even though the thought of Chicago winters doesn’t bring me warm fuzzies, I do get fired up when reflecting on all of the great memories of the year with my clients, leaders, and women in my community. I also go through a process of writing out my goals every year in a master journal and tracking every year’s successes and works in progress.

One thing I learned this year #TIL is that I am a “builder” (Thanks to Joe Abraham’s book, Entrepreneurial DNA). So, I get even more excited about creating additional opportunities to bring even more women and resources together in the next year as I “Build” new channels in my business.

One of the processes I find to be the most helpful, and stimulates the most creativity in my brain, is to carve out quiet time to journal about what I did, how I felt, what I liked, what I didn’t and what I learned over the year. I try to look at myself and my experiences with as much objectivity as I can—much like a biographer would.

Here are some suggestions to get you started with this reflection process.

• What did you learn? (skills, knowledge, awareness, etc.)
• What books did you read? What were your favorite personal development books?
• What did you accomplish? Make a list of your wins and achievements.
• What would you have done differently? Why?
• What did you complete or release? What still feels incomplete?
• What were the most significant events of the year past? List the top three.
• What did you do right? What do you feel especially good about? What was your greatest contribution?
• What were the fun things you did? What were the not-so-fun?
• What were your biggest challenges/roadblocks/difficulties?
• How are you different this year than last?
• What are you particularly grateful for?

OK – Great! Now that you have a process to reflect on your past year, “How does that help me create a more successful future?” you may ask because you truly want to have the best year ever.

This is my turn to ASK YOU, “What is the definition of insanity?”

You mull it over a bit and when you through your arms up in doubt, I tell you, “Insanity is when you do the same things and expect different results”.

If you enter 2019 with the same plan you had in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015….. You will most assuredly have the same mediocre results once again. So I am going to challenge you to believe in yourself enough to take a different course of action.

It’s time to STOP THE INSANITY!

Over the past years, I have worked with expert coaches, trainers and mastermind facilitators. I learned a TON!!! I then went on to build my own skills as a coach, trainer and mastermind facilitator. It was fun and I loved seeing the transformations in my clients. But you know what I discovered? I discovered that although participating in each one of those business-building ventures was fabulous, there is a much better way to create your own success. 

You have to take ownership of your success and get plugged into a community that will support you every step of the way.

I hope to see you on the inside.

Hugs & Blessings, CR